We needed tough lessons as children. An occasional playground fight was expected as the norm, and if we complained to our mother that we were being teased, we were treated to this glorious aphorism: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” My mom used to say that all the time, one of the seemingly endless adages she had at her disposal to deal with any of life’s problems. To this day I think long and hard about the practical application that dogma had on my life.
The idea that you could actually choose whether or not to be hurt by words: that was huge for me. Even though it has been repeated ad nauseam for generations, “sticks and stones” really is a powerful bit of philosophy to a kid. That’s one of the great things about being a parent: you can spout nothing but clichés, and yet, to your child, you come off as one of the great thinkers in Western culture.
–from MEAN DADS FOR A BETTER AMERICA, by Tom Shillue
Please use the term media cave, - I hate the phrase man cave - it’s reductive and derogatory. As Sebastian Maniscalco said “my father had a man cave it was the house”
Thank you for reminding me. I wanted to talk about our post-show hangout in Memphis and here it is:
“David Allen Coe”
Recently passed on April 29…
This is my second favorite David Allen Coe song; the first being ‘You never even called me by my name’.
‘Would you lay with me (in a field of stone)’
Would you lay with me in a field of stone
If my needs were strong would you lay with me
Should my lips grow dry would you wet them dear
In the midnight hour if my lips were dry
Would you go away to another land
Walk a thousand miles through the burning sand
Wipe the blood away from my dying hand if I give myself to you
Would you bathe with me in the stream of life
When the moon is full will you bathe with me
Will you still love me when I'm down and out
In my time of trials will you stand by me
Would you go away...
Would you lay with me in a field of stone
If my needs were strong would you lay with me
“This is our big mistake: to think we look forward to death. Most of death is already gone. Whatever time has passed is owned by death.”
– Seneca the younger
“Epictetus”
Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control.
— Epictetus
