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Sneezing
Could be the random fluctuations of temperature. Could be getting caught out in the rain. Could be the warmer weather is waking the miserable little allergens. Whatever the reason, I’m at least halfway through a box of tissues. Sneeze. Type. Sneeze. Type. Sneeze. Really hard to accomplish anything but filling a trash bag with nasty tissues.
Feeling dreadful
I’m way behind on work and I’ve got this wretched sniffle. I feel absolutely awful. Thank goodness for Nyquil and Dayquil. It’s quite difficult to record when you’re sneezing your face off. Suckoriffic…
Some More Rules
Rule #280: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
That’s surprisingly pragmatic for the Ferengi. I’d expect them to say “If it’s broke, sell it as a collector’s item.” or some such thing. Just the same, this is widely held as both common sense and sage advice.
In most cases, that’s true. However, there’s always room for improvement. Even if it’s not broke, doesn’t mean it can’t work better. Sometimes it’s worth going through a Kaizen cycle to see if something that seems to be working fine could actually be optimized. The answer is not always yes, but it’s worth doing the analysis.
Rule #281-283: Not yet cited in Star Trek episodes, movies or novels
The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others. ~Robert Baden-Powell
Doing good for the sake of trying to bring others some happiness is a commendable goal. You never know when your little bit of sunshine is just enough to turn somebody’s frown upside down. There’s nothing wrong with being kind or generous. It beats the tar out of being selfish and grasping. Share a smile with somebody. It doesn’t cost you anything and it may be just the treasure somebody needs to change the character of their day.
Rule #284: Deep down, everyone’s a Ferengi
God help us. Yes, most people are selfish deep down inside, but most of us have had decent upbringings that let us overcome our natural narcissism. Little kids are naturally selfish, but we tend to grow out of it as we learn to interact and function with others. Unfortunately, some people never actually learn that lesson. Whether it’s because they’re sociopaths or just the victims of bad parenting, some people are just dreadfully selfish trolls like the Ferengi. Fortunately, these people tend to self-identify pretty quickly. Avoid them. There are so many well-adjusted, pleasant people in this world. Don’t feed the trolls.
Rule #285: No good deed ever goes unpunished
A friend of mine brought to my attention a quote by Enzo Ferrari that translates as “Never do good if you are not prepared for ingratitude.” A lot of times, we try to help people with the best of intentions. In most cases, this is reciprocated with appreciation or even a good deed in turn. However, you tend to find Ferengi-like trolls who return kindness with disdain. Don’t take it personally, but remember to avoid toxic people such as these in the future. Their disposition is unlikely to improve. Some people just don’t get gratitude. Entitlement is a mental disease that’s all too common these days.
Good Lord. More sneezing, wheezing, dripping and dizziness. Time for some more medicine and a bit of a nap. Hope you’re having a better day than I am.