“You can’t make this stuff up.”

Actually, you can.

“These are mostly highway miles.”

Ever had a car salesman say that to you? It’s one of the many lines we’ve been trained to accept as fact.

I’ve never asked an Impala if its life has been an easier one simply because a little old lady from Pasadena drove it to church on the freeway each Sunday instead of a city street, but I’m guessing that a mile is a mile is a mile.

Why is it that we believe so much of what we’ve always been told? I dunno, but I’ve been guilty of it too.

Most sayings are just that. Sayings.

“Cheaters never prosper.”

Yes, they do. It happens all the time. The political arena is full of lying, cheating, philandering thugs, and they not only prosper, they don’t even get arrested.

“Starve a cold, feed a fever.”

I’m not sure how you accomplish either one of these, but it never stops people from giving me this advice when I’m feeling terrible. What I’d like to do when I hear that is slug someone.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Most of the time, what doesn’t kill you, came pretty darn close to killing you. Why people think that saying that to someone who came close to dying is a great way to make them feel better is beyond me.

“Only the good die young.”

Mother Teresa died at 87.

“Money can’t buy you happiness.”

Yes, it can. I’ve bought lots of happiness with money. I’ve even spent a few bucks on glee and elation. Glee and elation normally cost more, by the way.

“What goes around comes around.”

That may be true for a merry-go-round, but not for most of the weasels of the world. I’ve seen many a person who stepped all over his fellow man to advance himself succeed more often than fail. Even when they do fail, like a phoenix, they tend to wind up with a better situation than what they had before.

“Good things come to those who wait.”

Not very often. Wasted time normally comes to those who wait. Being proactive and setting goals and deadlines is usually what brings the good things.

“You can do anything you put your mind to.”

No, no you can’t. I’ve met people who couldn’t find their mind to put it anywhere. Most of the time, they can’t find their mind because they can’t remember where they put it.

I’m sure there are many other sayings which I should’ve included here, but didn’t.

Just be patient with me and I’ll try to come up with some more.

Remember, good things come to those who wait.

2015 John Moore

To read more of John’s musings, visit johnmoore.net/blog