Pete's Opinion

We don’t get to chose how we die; we chose how we live.

When you watch racing (and it doesn’t matter what kind, NASCAR, Indy Car, whatever), one thing you can count on is the fact that there’s going to be a wreck.

We see it all the time. Someone in the world drops the ball, and doesn’t do something they most likely should have. Didn’t do their job. Didn’t finish a task. Did something incorrectly. You name it. Someone else comes along and does the job, finishes the task, or corrects the mistake. They could be the ‘hero,’ but too often they’re not.

If you’re waiting for your ship to come in, wishing you’d win millions in the lottery, or hoping for that perfect job to come along; I’ve got bad news. The ship’s not coming. Your numbers are not going to be drawn. The perfect job will not magically appear. In fact, there is no ship. (Don’t worry, I’ve got something better.)

I was watching a TV show last night when one of the characters said to the other, “I can take care of myself, I need you to take care of you.” That works I suppose. Of course, there’s another approach too. One where you never have to think of yourself, or worry about your own best interest. That would all be taken care of.

Rarely has there been a time in my life when a situation hasn’t been made better by writing my ideas down. There is something about putting the pen to paper that helps sort things out, and brings a certain clarity that would be elusive if those same thoughts were just floating around in my big, empty head.

Whether we realize it or not, we are in a large part, a product of every single experience that has been a part of our life up to this point. The good, the bad, and the ugly. All of them. Most of them we probably don’t even remember, but put them all on the table and roll them in to one big ball of experiences, and what you get is; well, you.

When was the last time you heard someone complaining about something? Ten seconds ago? Thirty seconds ago? A minute ago? I’m officially adding ‘complaining’ to the death and taxes discussion. Too many people spend too much time looking for their next fight. Baseball? I am beginning to think that complaining is America’s pastime.

Big or little, monumental or insignificant, frivolous or serious. Every minute of every hour of every day, our lives are filled with a never-ending stream of choices. How we choose, defines us as people. Who we are today is a product of all of the choices we have made up to this point. Our ‘life DNA’ is made up of a never ending string of ‘forks’ in our road.

Generally speaking, I would rather have great service and a mediocre product (or a more expensive price), than a great bargain or fantastic product and poor service. Bad service can ruin everything for me. Great bottle of wine + scrumptious steak – good service = crappy night. Fountain soda + 3-piece meal (original recipe) + great service = happy Pete.

I haven’t had a cold yet this season. I know its only October, but I didn't have one last year either. No sniffles, sneezes, coughs, body aches, fever, chills. Now here’s the question. Be honest. As you read this, are you thinking to yourself, “Well, that does it; Pete will definitely get a cold now just for talking about it.”

In all the technology, and all the progress, and all the communication options, in all the world; all the buttons, all the devices, all the apps; Facebook, Twitter, email, instant messaging, texting, iPads, laptops, phone calls, VOIP, Skype, iPhones, Android, and on and on and on – there’s one thing I wish we would all forget how to use.