Learning the Easy Way
Lately I’ve been encouraging my co-workers around the office that we need to “start learning the easy way”. Basically, that’s just a way of encouraging people to be proactive and consider all possibilities. Often I feel we don’t give enough credit to folks who learn the easy way, and we give too much credit to folks who manage the mess after we learn the hard way. Now unexpected things always happen, and we need folks who come through in those clutch situations. But many times it just takes a little forsight to see a looming fire – yet we’re too busy to look ahead that far. What’s that saying – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. How about a ton of cure?
Obviously these types of things doesn’t just happen at the office – I can look back on my life and see times where I learned the hard way and wish I could get a life-mulligan. Recently I had a situation with my Honda Accord where I learned the hard way in dealing with mechanics and repair shops. Several hundred bucks later, you can be sure I’ll do things differently next time.
There’s also been times in my life where I believe I have made good choices, learning the easy way. I remember a preacher talking about those who come to the end of their lives and lament their time spent piling up wealth and forsaking time with family. As he says, no one ever lays on their death bed and reflects by saying, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.” These are life lessons that I want to learn the easy way, for sure.
Here are some simple and practical lessons that I’d like to learn the easy way:
- He who guards his mouth protects his life; to open wide one’s lips brings downfall. — Proverbs 13:3
- Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast. — Proverbs 15:15
What are some lessons that you’ve had to learn the hard way? The easy way?
