Life lessons get repeated for a reason

We get reminded from time to time that, the devil’s in the details. Small things often get overlooked. We don’t pay attention because we were not aware or them, we chose not to, or we did not emphasise them enough on our hierarchy of wants. They get labelled as small, because there are other more important priorities to be addressed. We can’t be everywhere and we can’t pay attention to everything.

Modern complexities – what we must admit

Complexity of modern living takes its toll. Getting back in control means we need to prioritise, to focus, to choose our responses, and decide what our true priorities are more than ever before. There are never enough minutes in a day to do what we want and never enough resources to fulfil our needs.

Do we want more than we really need, or we need less than what we often want?

Really do you need to have it if you can afford it? And more importantly how fragile we really are in this world we both live in? Will this madness ever stop or we are approaching mechanical reasoning, bloodless actioning and some form of materialistic existence. Functioning without thinking…

Does money decide everything?

If you are like me, you’ll say money is important and certainly is not everything. But to some, even $1 is everything and often means difference between living and dying…For that reason and that reason only money seems to decide priorities, destinies, future, philosophies, living…

And the story goes like this…

Few weeks ago we went to a birthday party. Little friend of our daughter was turning 3 and we were invited. On our way there we had to go through toll points. Pleasant drive was interrupted by strange sound of the toll tag attached to our car. I had a feeling something was wrong and was prepared to check it when we arrive home. Few minutes later another beeping sound, and then minutes later on the bridge another one, and another one. To summarise, all up 4 unpaid toll notices.  Now I knew we had a problem.  My funding card expired and account was overdrawn.

What this boils down to is…

I didn’t pay attention. It wasn’t a big thing. Neglected priorities, especially when you drive everyday… you know what comes next, tolls had to be paid and administration charges too. Total bill $70+, thanks for coming and come often. I was furious. For $12 of unpaid tolls, almost $60 of additional administration charges.  It was my fault. I should have known better, I should do something. I had the opportunity to resolve it earlier, way before it would actually happen. But I didn’t. And I had to pay the price. Really, it is not about money, it is about everything…I could do, but I didn’t…Because issue wasn’t big enough to make me act…

Moral of the story…

Now you are certainly wandering where this leads to and will he finally start whinge about it. I must disappoint you that wasn’t my point. The moral of the story is this and that is the whole purpose of this article; to point out that:

• So called “small things” are not so small when they accumulate
• Had I attended to “urgencies” earlier, when I had to I could do more with what I had
• Experiences although painful, are not fatal and we will recover. Frustration leads to anger and anger is harmful
• In the modern society we live in, price must be paid in full before we enjoy the benefit
• Money is not everything but it often decides outcomes and moods
• Rules of the game are known and if we want to play we must follow them. Respect authorities, respect the rules. Know where you stand…
• We must control controllable events,  by paying dues when they are due and having our house  in order.
• Results we get, steams from where we place our focus and energy, on our priorities

Again, I did nothing…

I didn’t complain to authorities and simply paid my dues. There is no point in doing so. It is computer generated correspondence they would say and we can’t do anything about it.

And often the devil’s really in small prints and things. Fortunately we fail and succeed on big things and core principles. Small things are small because we are humans and often pick our true priorities correctly. Small things seldom get attention they deserve, until they become larger and impact us on a higher levels. There are never enough minutes in a day to do what we desire…That is modern living complexity…we must discriminate…we can’t be everything to everybody.