April 27th, 2018

I am feeling old and wise today.  No particular reason, just woke up with that countenance upon me.  Ever do that?  Just wake up in one frame of mind or another with no particular source that you can put your finger on?  I never wake up in a bad mood,  so it's more subtle than that. I have to really listen for it.  The internal listen I mean, to properly determine which of the many layers to myself that exist, is at the forefront this minute.  

​I wasn't absolutely certain at first, although I had a sneaking suspicion about it. Then on my way to Pilates class, I was stopped by no less than 3 different people asking me questions.  They passed other people by to specifically single me out,  to query me. Two people in the class singled me out to ask my opinion about things  too!  I must look old and wise today as well.  

​So it is with that evidence  that I feel confidently old and wise enough today to make the following statement:  There are things in life that are very important.  There are things in life that are not important.  It is important to know the difference between the two.

​Example number one:  The colour of a kids hair is not important. It's really not.  Are they good people?  Are they kind and thoughtful and hard working most of the time?  Are they creative and interesting and respectful more often than not?   Are they healthy and loved and being educated?  Those things are important.  Fashion statements are not.  Kids need to expressive themselves, dabble in style, figure out who they are. And it will all change.  Long hair today, short hair tomorrow, big purse or small, shirts tucked in or left out, it all changes. Constantly.

​Example number two:  The cost of anything someone bought. I do not care. I will never care.  I am not impressed even the teeniest tiniest bit by what anyone has.  The only thing that ever has and ever will matter to me about a person is who they are. Their actual substance.  The rest is just packaging and I'm not foolish enough to be distracted by a shiny bow.

​Example number three:  Which way the toilet paper hangs on the spindle.  I know I'm being very controversial here.  People get very heated about this topic which makes me laugh out loud. There are wars and famine and disease and natural disasters world-wide and folks, who otherwise, are very rational, reasonable and sane people absolutely lose their minds over which way the toilet paper hangs on the spindle.  

​My goodness.  Relax people!  There is a reason behind the rule.  There always is :)

​I looked into the history of this.  The original patent on the toilet paper spindle way back in 1891 showed a diagram of the toilet paper hanging forward on the spindle like so:

And because of that patent application diagram, it was assumed that this was the "correct" way to hang the toilet paper.  Honestly, that is the only reason. The. Only. Reason.

​There are actually good reasons to hang it the other way sometimes.  For instance, if a person has a cat who loves to play with the toilet paper roll.  Have you ever seen the result of that?  Cats love to play with things that move.  Toilet paper on a spindle moves!  If the paper is hanging forward, the cat pulls at it and the roll spins!  And for a bonus the paper also unravels over and over until you have a pile of slightly scratched up, slightly furry toilet paper on the floor. Cat has long moved on to a sunny spot to have a nap.  When the paper is hanging down the back, it doesn't unravel, so it's not nearly as much fun for the cat. You see?

As I approach my 65th year, I find that I am far more self-assured than I used to be.  In fact, I am confident now in telling people to relax about the whole toilet paper positioning topic.  It Does Not Matter.  There are no toilet paper police who are going to charge into your home and fine you if the toilet paper is not hanging the proper way.  There are so many other things to put time and energy into.  Things that matter, like relationships! 

​The only two ways of hanging a toilet paper roll that should be considered unacceptable are:

Those two options are totally unacceptable.  Everything else is honestly, no big deal.  Choose your battles carefully or you may find yourself fighting everything with everyone all the time. And when that happens the only person you end up fighting with, is yourself.

And the only other important thing the Old and Wise Sam of today will say is, 
​The weekend is on the horizon.  Enjoy the heck out of it!

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