(OT) Maybe sort of a kinda

PC, I assure you that men need no such approval. Let's assume for a moment that in our society the ability to choose your own destiny is equal for men and women even though it has been a hell of a struggle for women to achieve anything close to that. Sexism is as deeply entrained as racism, maybe deeper because it's often blended and hidden. I was asked once how the members of my high school graduating class had fared and I was busy rattling off a list of names and achievements when my wife tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You haven't mentioned one single girl." We had more stellar girl graduates than boys and many of them did great things, including giving birth to great kids, including raising them, and often including full-blown careers at the same time. That generally puts considerable pressure on baby-sitters (universally girls) and grandparents (mostly grandmothers) but they did it. There are many roads to laziness and men are pretty good at finding and traveling them. "Don't bother me; I have to work." is a good one and I have used it a million times myself. Sometimes I was in the right. Probably most times. Other times I guarantee you: not so much. Men usually have big egos because they are fragile. Fragile egos have to be big to keep from breaking at the slightest insult. I have witnessed unfathomable strength from women (and men) who don't have big egos and I try to model myself after those people. Give me a small ego and unfathomable strength any day. Salt of the earth. Humble. Potent.

PC: It was simply a behavioral observation....

With all the positioning here, the ultimate question. What is the purpose of life? What are our lives about?

B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

CIAK Said: With all the positioning here, the ultimate question. What is the purpose of life? What are our lives about?

B) :) :) B) Deep Down In Florida Where The Sun Shines Damn Near Every Day

For me, a big part of it is knowing that at the end of my days I'll have to answer to God, and He may not excuse that the low bar I set for myself is what the law allowed me to do. So I try to set it higher.

Egg: Thumbs Up

Twill: Understood

Roofguy: Most of us do. Don't forget He is forgiving. We have to allow us the grace of making the best decision necessary at the time. We are all on trial everyday.

Ciak: Great question, you should start a whole new post on that. Roofguy would like that...something other than roofing.

My answer from personal experience is endurance. Of course through the decades my opinions have changed but not by much. My handling of lifes situations has changed somewhat. It has taken me now at 66, now a matriach and the sole caregiver for my daughter and grandchildren a tremendous experience of myself. I now see a pattern in my life, I'm a caregiver, never employed as one but have lived my life as one. The things you find out about yourself. So to answer you Ciak, for me, in my latter years is to be a good example and loving person to everyone that crosses my path, we all meet for a reason no matter how brief. PC

It's only as complicated as we make it - and we're becoming more & more capable of ever-complicating it, (life)..... Who used to sign their posts with "Life's too short to play with your food"? ....bout sums it up....

Tom is right, of course. In my youth as I was first gaining traction in this trade I used to summarize things for myself very simply. At that time in the depressed market I was in I could go out each and every day, strap on my tools, and put four nails in each shingle at four cents a nail, take my money, go to the store and buy milk and bread, and inch my way forward in the world. This base level of existence grounded me and kept my head from grappling with demons hatched by an over-active intellect.

Do no harm. Do no harm. Take delight in the early morning sun, the slanting light of the afternoon, the blessing of sleeping well that goes with physical exertion, giving a penny's value for every penny earned. Helping your neighbor. Taking responsibility for your own life and the well-being of your children.

That's where I started and I sincerely hope that where I end up is not too monstrously far from that.

As usual - Beautifully put egg.....