Things I wish I could tell people

[cjsmith]

To the person who recently taught me patience: I never got to thank you. I probably just looked ticked. But thanks for the lesson. I even found a good use for it. :-)

To my younger self: don't be so worried about status. You know you can't be both looked up to and liked. Trust me, you'll ultimately be happier with liked.

To anyone who once had what they wanted, and threw it away: why? why? why? Maybe you didn't know that's what you were doing? Well, it turned out that it was. Some of you have found it again and you're happy. I hope the rest of you can too.

To a leader I respect: it was a pleasure to work with you, and I wish I could do so again.

To another leader I respect: it was a pleasure and an honor to serve alongside you.

To the flight instructor who showed me my first aileron roll: I wish you could see me now. You would be pleased with what you have wrought. :-)

Comments

[gs.livejournal.com]

You know you can't be both looked up to and liked.

Well, I don't know about being looked up to, but you can be respected and liked. I look at you that way.

I like looking at you, too.Û

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't know about being looked up to, but you can be respected and liked. I look at you that way.

Y'know, I think I actually see that. A lot of it has to do with saying positive things, even just little things, as they come up.

[good lesson here, cj, take it home]

I like looking at you, too.

I should warn ya, I look right back. ;-)

[yoak.livejournal.com]

Why can't you say these things to those people? I mean, other than yourself at a younger age.

You've given me something to think about. What would I say to myself given the ability to go back for a conversation. Other than, "Hey stupid. When all of your clients are saying that they'd rather have aworldofmaps.com instead of maps.com and every frimping domain in the world including money.com is available (I actually checked this, but didn't register.), spend a couple thousand dollars so you'll be unspeakably wealthy. Sell them all in October of 1999."

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Why can't you say these things to those people?

Good question.

1) wouldn't understand without a lot of background explanation
2) no time machine :-)
3) lost touch with several, one... way way too painful right now
4) lost touch with
5) Actually DID say! Then lost touch
6) lost touch with (currently searching, as a sort of background task)

What would I say to myself given the ability to go back for a conversation.

Other than when to sell stock, yeah... Well, hey, I'd be pretty happy just with the stock tips, to be perfectly honest. :-)

[yoak.livejournal.com]

Yes... but stock tips are a mundane answer, as is my answer about domain name speculation.

I think for most people, they'd advise to change some important cusp, but I honestly can't say I've ever made a major decision that I regret or wish I could change.

Damn... I really can't think of an important message to relay back.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I guess I would relay knowledge, understanding, compassion, rather than What To Do. I might even choose a time when I was enduring unintended consequences of a decision rather than the time just before the decision. I'd say "Now here is something you've learned..."

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

you can't be both looked up to and liked

looked up to => hierarchy, admired-from-a-distance, typically unapproachable, viewed as somewhow superior. Often accompanies being placed on someone's pedestal...

liked => pleasure in someone's company, personal approval, approachable, equals.

These can also overlap and interfere with each other... for instance there's are people out there that I like a lot personally, but feel constrained from approaching because I also look up to them. Sort of the "I like X a lot, but why would X be interested in talking (or having lunch, or whatever) with me?" syndrome...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

These can also overlap and interfere with each other... for instance there's are people out there that I like a lot personally, but feel constrained from approaching because I also look up to them.

Yeah, I know that feeling too!! :-)