Things we say

  I haven't been watching much news or been on Facebook the last few days. Still, I checked in when I had a chance. I find in interesting when I get comments on some of my posts days later, sometimes weeks. In one case I had left my opinion on a posting, imagine that me leaving an opinion. Anyway, this post was about how happy everyone is that marijuana has been "quasi-legalized" in many states. It is still a federal offense to possess and sell pot. The joy was about the health benefits of smoking that stuff. The comments about how relaxing it is, how beneficial to your mental health. It's important to note this posting was talking about smoking, not using CBD products, chewables, or brownies or whatever else they do, it was about smoking. My remark was about how smoking that stuff can give you lung cancer, COPD, and if used regularly and often enough, cause brain rot. Remember when we all thought someone being a "stoner" was hilarious. Well, it really isn't all that funny when you consider it.

  Reading through the comments made in response to my opinion I had to chuckle just a bit. At first, I was just laughing at all the name calling I received. I'm old, I'm stupid, I don't know what I'm talking about, and I had posted false information. Smoking pot isn't harmful at all, it is in fact good for you. Yeah, I find all that amusing. Then I began to chuckle as I read statements that sounded just like me forty years ago! Yes, years ago I was a cigarette smoker and yes, I had tried that wacky tobaccy, I wasn't a square man. 

 I know it's hard to believe but I did indulge in all manner of vice in my younger years. The comment that sparked that reaction was from someone who said, " you're going to die from something" it might as well be fun. Yeah, I said that a few times in my youth, and by youth I'm mean in my thirties! The person leaving that informed me he was 32 years old, had been smoking cigarettes and pot since he was 16. He went on to say how healthy he was, he's in top shape and there is nothing wrong with his brain. I did respond to him saying I'm 72 and how I said the same thing forty years ago. He just said the world is so bad today he doesn't want to live that long! He did say if he had to, he wanted to be high. Ah, the bravado of youth. I laugh about the time I thought 32 was old. Yes, I did feel all grown up then.

  I remember my grandfather and my father saying similar things to me about "habits" and how they can mess up your life. I usually responded with; you did that didn't you? They always assured me they had and that's why they knew about that. I would just laugh and tell them consider me a student then, I'm just learning. We all know as teenagers and young adults that the bad stuff always happens to someone else. It won't happen to me. I know when to quit! Well, that's because we know it all. The only problem being as we get older, we tend to forget. By the time we remember, it's too late. It's one of those little ironies God puts into our lives. We can't say he didn't try to warn us. 

  It's an old story, repeated by every generation. The young people just aren't listening and don't know what they are talking about. We seniors have all the experience, all the training and education combined with life experiences yet, they won't listen. Each generation will say the same things, however. Each generation finding an excuse, a justification for indulging in whatever vices are appealing at the time. All of that speaks to personal restraint and self-denial. Those are the basic tenets of every religious practice in the world. Some call that morality while others simply dismiss those lessons altogether. Today, as every generation will tell you, we are making excuses for everything in an attempt to justify our choices. 

 It's the things we say. The justification for marijuana usage? Well, everyone is going to do it anyway. A reasoning that never goes out of style. And if you only use a little bit, it will be fine, all things in moderation. And we will all exercise that restraint and not abuse anything. And even if we do, we now how programs to intervene and save us from ourselves. You can even get praised for that, setting a positive example for those that may follow. You are a survivor! It's that experience that will make you wise. But wait a minute, isn't that what mom and dad said, isn't that what grandpa tried to tell you? Isn't that what those ancient Greek philosophers had to say. Yeah, it is the things we say but it is the things we do that will impact us the most. Choose wisely. Plato had this to say, “The worst of all deceptions is self-deception.”