Platitudes have their place — as do clichés, maxims, axioms, aphorisms and adages. I find them handy because I’m just not very original when it comes to making New Year’s resolutions or stating the philosophical ideals by which I aim to live.
I rely on the good ol’ standbys: Life is what you make it; go with the flow; make lemonade out of lemons; into each life, some rain must fall; every cloud has a silver lining; and be excellent and party on. Or something like that. You get the idea.
So this year, for some variety, I decided to consult some very wise and learned friends on their philosophy and advice for the coming year. These friends are nonstarving artists — a variation of the cliché — like out-of-the-box thinkers, right? So right away, I suspected I’d hit gold, metaphorically speaking, with my consultation concept.
As I was saying, these were clearly NONstarving — although very hungry, if that makes a difference — “artists.” Nonstarving as evidenced by the fact that they were all out to dinner — not out to lunch — together when I consulted them. These wise friends are traditional yet innovative and conservative yet experimental in their approach to things. Things like actually ordering Italian food at an Italian restaurant, or, you know, life. And writing. That’s because the people in the consulted group are writers (with a spouse or two thrown in — again, metaphorically speaking).
Anyway, these members of the Downers Grove Writers Workshop were very helpful. Char Daniels, who with her husband Mark will soon be grandparents, said, “Having a grandchild is life-renewing.
“Before the age of 50, everyone else was the right age,” she added, reflecting. “After 50, we realize we are.”
John Quinn also commented on age, saying, “Age is relative. I have always been the same age.” Can we call that wisdom for the ages?
“Always keep your pants up,” Steve Myslicki said. Which is either good, practical advice, or he has a job on the side selling belts and suspenders and was practicing his sales pitch.
Char Poelsterl, currently between careers, was thoughtfully advised by Shirley Hiddleston that “Chocolate is the answer.” Personally, I think that is advice we would all do well to heed.
John Hiddleston shared a toast for lovers about closing the space between them — literally. Well, lovers have been known to accomplish that with the help of chocolate, especially around Valentine’s Day. And chocolate is something for which we should be grateful.
Judy Tullis and Tony Tumea both advised us to feel gratitude.
John Mahoney said, “Our new year is built on the foundation of past years.” And he, at 91, knows whereof he speaks.
Mary Schultz said, “Life is like a camera — we need to balance the big picture with the little picture,” and Marie Anderson said, “Listening is the sweetest gift you can give someone.” Larry Zoeller gave that gift to the rest of the group rather than contributing his own words of wisdom.
Now I will offer one of my favorite clichés, but with a slight twist. Don’t look at the glass as half-full (yes, we are back to metaphors) or as half-empty. It can be both at the same time, which can be viewed as balance. But go ahead and keep trying to fill it with the milk of human kindness and may you succeed.
Happy New Year!
