Jack’s Winning Words 7/12/19
“When a thing is done, it’s done. Don’t look
back. Look forward to your next objective.” (George C. Marshall) If you had to describe, The
Marshall Plan, could you do it? Today’s world is largely the result
of a plan formulated by General Marshall. After a war, the winning side
usually crushes the opponent. After WW 2, the plan was to help “the
enemy” recover and become a friend. It happened…Germany, Italy and Japan
became allies. Thanks, George! ;-) Jack
FROM PRDR: Thanks Jack! What a wonderful thought as I reflect on this Sunday’s gospel and what it means to be a good neighbor.===JACK: These are times when the teachings of Jesus are more relevant that ever and just as hard to take as when he first told them. “Neighborliness” needs to be redefined. Think how the Marshall Plan would go over in today’s America….OUCH! That’s the message from my tiny pulpit.
FROM TAMPA SHIRL: After the end of the war the Marshall plan was a great idea and we r still reaping the results today! What a wonderful world in which we live===JACK: Those who have experienced a "situation" usually have a better commentary than those who've read about it on the internet.
FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: The USA still help this world. We are still generous with foreign aid and we’re the first ones on site in an emergency with our special teams trained for just those emergencies.===JACK: That's the USA I remember, but I seem to have read that there are those who think that we've done too much of that, and we should not do it anymore. I hope that's not true.
FROM N0RM'S MILFORD BLOG: When you are driving in a car, you cannot move forward (at least not very far or fast) by continually looking in the mirror to see where you’ve been. You must look forward to see where you are going. In life, some people seem to fixate on the mirror, spending their time looking back, perhaps in regret for things done or left undone. We sometimes refer to them as “living in the past”. But, the truth is that one cannot live in the past. The past is done and it cannot be undone, no matter how much we may wish that things could be different. Perhaps the issue for some is that they don’t have a “next objective” to look forward to and to work towards. I have noticed that when I awaken in the morning on a day that I have nothing planned, I manage to get very little done, and the day just drags along. However, if I have things that I knew ahead that I wanted to get done that day, I awaken with a sense of purpose to accomplish those objectives – I can’t wait to get started. The ends of those two types of days are also very different, too – one with relief that the day is finally over and the other ending with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I’ve also noticed that people who can’t seem to let go of the past, who are fixated on the mirror are less happy with life. That might include those who cannot put the loss of a job aside and go on with life; or those who cannot find a way to put the loss of a loved one into a place of good memories and move on. Perhaps it includes those who cannot put a snub or social slight into its proper place of un-importance; or perhaps those who cannot see beyond preconceived prejudices from their past. For whatever reason these people have fixated on the mirror of the past. So, the take-away from Marshall’s quote is to put down that mirror. What’s done is done. Accept it and move on. Find a new objective and focus upon that. Find that new job, maybe one that involves something that you really love to do. Recognize and deal with the preconceived notions about people that you’ve been carrying around like baggage and see if life doesn’t get a little more interesting when you allow different points of view into your thinking. Look for new relationships than might lead to finding a new significant other – not to replace the lost loved one, but to crate new memories in addition to those fond memories from the past that you can glance at in the mirror from time-to-time Life continues to move forward, whether you are looking in the mirror or looking ahead. Life is just a whole lot more satisfying when you are pursuing new objectives, rather than trying to live in the past. The current Chevrolet commercial tag line is “Find new roads”; maybe that’s what Marshall meant. Don’t spend your time looking in the mirror; find the new roads of your life and look ahead to your next objective.
FROM PRDR: Thanks Jack! What a wonderful thought as I reflect on this Sunday’s gospel and what it means to be a good neighbor.===JACK: These are times when the teachings of Jesus are more relevant that ever and just as hard to take as when he first told them. “Neighborliness” needs to be redefined. Think how the Marshall Plan would go over in today’s America….OUCH! That’s the message from my tiny pulpit.
FROM TAMPA SHIRL: After the end of the war the Marshall plan was a great idea and we r still reaping the results today! What a wonderful world in which we live===JACK: Those who have experienced a "situation" usually have a better commentary than those who've read about it on the internet.
FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: The USA still help this world. We are still generous with foreign aid and we’re the first ones on site in an emergency with our special teams trained for just those emergencies.===JACK: That's the USA I remember, but I seem to have read that there are those who think that we've done too much of that, and we should not do it anymore. I hope that's not true.
FROM N0RM'S MILFORD BLOG: When you are driving in a car, you cannot move forward (at least not very far or fast) by continually looking in the mirror to see where you’ve been. You must look forward to see where you are going. In life, some people seem to fixate on the mirror, spending their time looking back, perhaps in regret for things done or left undone. We sometimes refer to them as “living in the past”. But, the truth is that one cannot live in the past. The past is done and it cannot be undone, no matter how much we may wish that things could be different. Perhaps the issue for some is that they don’t have a “next objective” to look forward to and to work towards. I have noticed that when I awaken in the morning on a day that I have nothing planned, I manage to get very little done, and the day just drags along. However, if I have things that I knew ahead that I wanted to get done that day, I awaken with a sense of purpose to accomplish those objectives – I can’t wait to get started. The ends of those two types of days are also very different, too – one with relief that the day is finally over and the other ending with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I’ve also noticed that people who can’t seem to let go of the past, who are fixated on the mirror are less happy with life. That might include those who cannot put the loss of a job aside and go on with life; or those who cannot find a way to put the loss of a loved one into a place of good memories and move on. Perhaps it includes those who cannot put a snub or social slight into its proper place of un-importance; or perhaps those who cannot see beyond preconceived prejudices from their past. For whatever reason these people have fixated on the mirror of the past. So, the take-away from Marshall’s quote is to put down that mirror. What’s done is done. Accept it and move on. Find a new objective and focus upon that. Find that new job, maybe one that involves something that you really love to do. Recognize and deal with the preconceived notions about people that you’ve been carrying around like baggage and see if life doesn’t get a little more interesting when you allow different points of view into your thinking. Look for new relationships than might lead to finding a new significant other – not to replace the lost loved one, but to crate new memories in addition to those fond memories from the past that you can glance at in the mirror from time-to-time Life continues to move forward, whether you are looking in the mirror or looking ahead. Life is just a whole lot more satisfying when you are pursuing new objectives, rather than trying to live in the past. The current Chevrolet commercial tag line is “Find new roads”; maybe that’s what Marshall meant. Don’t spend your time looking in the mirror; find the new roads of your life and look ahead to your next objective.
===JACK: Your blog is one of my favorite readings of the day. I enjoy your insights. There's a reason of the windshield being bigger than the review mirror.
FROM BLAZING OAKS: AMEN!! What a plan, and he was able to sell it to our country very bitter over war losses...!===JACK: IMO, Something like the Marshall Plan, in today's America, would have "a snowball's chance in Hell" of getting support. A sad state of affairs....
FROM BLAZING OAKS: AMEN!! What a plan, and he was able to sell it to our country very bitter over war losses...!===JACK: IMO, Something like the Marshall Plan, in today's America, would have "a snowball's chance in Hell" of getting support. A sad state of affairs....
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