From The Storyteller
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April 22, 2019, Hip
“OOOOH” I’ve just become acutely aware of the huge difference between the phrases “I’m hip” and “My hip”. In my college day (60’s) peace, love, tie dyed jeans, and phrases like, “I’m hip man, that’s cool.” were considered to be normal. This morning, for better or worse, I’m once again reminded that my “Hippy” days are long gone. This transformation in my use of the word “hip” caused me to consider how, over time, everyday words take on new meanings. Cable and TV were not used in the same sentence, biology had the word “cell” all to its own, “sweat” was the everyday name for perspiration, and the words “football” and “soccer” did not refer to the same sport. While a stroll down memory lane has its place, this is not one of them. This is about how life continues to add, refine, and author so many “unanticipated” changes. The, “I’m hip” from my college days never anticipated the “My hip” of today. I never anticipated myself enjoying soccer, or being freed me from the tyranny of a telephone landline, or 123 cable channels, or a book telling me “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” I would also add that because of “unanticipated” changes in medical science, I am still around to write my stories. While I fondly remember the “good-old-days”, I’ve found living with a focus on the present works best for me. When I focus on what is happening in my life “now”, and I encounter an “unanticipated” change, I’m better able to adapt, modify, and overcome. This present reality focus let me understand why I needed to update my use of the word “hip”, and with that update, came this very useful modification - “When turning to the right, move slowly”. Moral: Paying attention to what’s happening “now” makes for much better results. |