Inner wisdom

Take some time and listen to your own inner wisdom.

H0w often have we done this: We had a nagging thought or instinct--but did something different entirely? Sometimes our first impressions or our first instincts are the right ones. Knowing when to heed that little voice in our head is important. Otherwise, our decisions may not be the right ones.

Brer Rabbit

If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.

Far from being instructions on trapping or hunting, I think of trying to do too much at the same time. For instance, if I am trying to finish two things for a tight deadline (which of course, would be at the same time and date), and trying to complete them well.

In those situations, it's really difficult to do it well. Or in some cases, it's difficult to even complete both tasks, in which case you need to regroup and either focus on one task (or rabbit) so the goal is accomplished.

Said, if you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right

A gambler not only will lose what he has, but also will lose what he doesn't have.

I think of the lyrics from The Gambler...and also from The Winner Takes It All and I imagine someone desperate, someone on a winning streak--the lucky run. Someone who has brought all he has to the table. "Just a little more, I'll win it back," he thinks to himself. Deeper in debt, another chip to lay on the table. "Just a bit more--my lucky streak will come back."

Said, if you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right

He's convinced himself that he has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. But by betting more than what he has--he's going to lose it all and spend time trying to get himself back in the black. Or perhaps his wife won't be happy and their marriage will disolve. Perhaps he'll file bankruptcy and lose the home that he and his wife have built together.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealin's done
Every gambler knows that the secret to survive is
Knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep
'Cos every hand's a winner and every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for is dyin' in your sleep

Knowing when to stop, when to stop taking chances--sometimes that takes real strength and confidence, too. Knowing when to walk away, not to give up--but to keep oneself from losing everything, whether it's money or love. Taking a risk can be worth it. This I know for sure--we've all taken risks, whether it's tossing that last chip on Red 5 on a rouletta in Vegas, falling in love, buying a house...sometimes the risks are worth it.

Maybe that Red 5 was that lucky number. Maybe that was the last of your savings. Perhaps the person you fall for is the one you end up marrying. But maybe it all falls apart and you get your heart broken. Maybe that house was the one of your dreams--or perhaps it turned out to be a money pit and not the right place for you at all. But more importantly, knowing when to take a chance is important, and moreover, it's also important to know when not to risk it all.

Athrilling time

Athrilling time is in your immediate future.

First of all, no proofreaders for this fortune?

Second of all, a thrilling time in my future sounds like a good thing. Hopefully it is a good thrilling time and not one of those miserably thrilling times (i.e., dangerous). I hope the smiley faces on this fortune are a good indication of what sort of thrilling time I am meant to have in the immediate future.

Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.

Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.

I've been looking at this fortune, wondering how to interpret this. Charity begins at home--the first thing that comes to mind is that we are all taught to do chores. Perhaps we begin by cleaning our rooms for a dollar. Or perhaps washing the dishes for ten cents--or whatever allowance we got from our parents. But rather than doing these chores for monetary reimbursement, we (hopefully) learn to do things like take out the trash so Dad won't have to, or to clean the shower so Mom won't have to. It's the consideration for others that we learn at home.

Now as far as justice--it is a bit of an extension of charity. Instead of doing things for people that we truly know and love at home, we extend our treatment to others. Treat them kindly, treat them with respect, and to be fair to others.