What is good for you is good for me?

We have many teachers in our lives

Parents, spiritual leaders, friends,

school teachers, professors

even our dogs and cats

oh!

and I can't forget horses

We learn many lessons

in many ways

sometimes the teaching is intentional

listen up Stephen Paul

Sometimes it just happens

there is that limbic programming thing

and soon my brain hums a long

in rhythm or not with your brain

Repetition teaches us as well

growing up my mother frequently would say

just as i walked out the door... "remember who you are!"

Another way of saying, don't so anything wrong!

Some of the things I learned were good

Be kind to others.  Have compassion.  It is good to help the vulnerable

Work hard.  Respect women.

Some of the things I learned were not so helpful

"No matter what it do it is never good enough"

"You have to be next to perfect for people to like you"

"People will like you for what you do, not because of who you are.'

Some of my beliefs work!

Some of them don't!

And some of them.....

Well some of them confuse me.

I was taught to respect the needs and wishes of others.

But sometimes what is good for others doesn't feel like it is good for me.

How do I deal with this?  Do I discount their need or mine?

Do I push my agenda, or fold?

I know I know

There should be a way to compromise

Find a common solution

Tell that to congress

(by the way, did you know a group of baboons is called a congress?)

Sometimes I find my self wishing

that the instruction booklet for life 

were clearer

Wishing that all the rules I have in my head worked

For my benefit

And for the benefit of those who have me in their lives

But alas

So many teachers

So many lessons

Such a mess

I guess it comes down to what I often tell the people i work with

All you can do is the best you can do with the tools you have

and pray