So the older I get, the more I seem to notice myself using the phrases that my Nan and Grandad used to say to me when I was a bairn visiting them in Norfolk. So here's my take on a few:
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
Total understatement - a bird in the hand is worth a gazillion in the bush! They say you never know what you have until it's gone, and man when it's gone, it blows.
"Actions speak louder than words"
SO true. What people say and what they do are often 2 different things. Language is often used to communicate your conception of something that you will make happen in the real world. So make it happen! I know this guy who is always talking about what he will do but he only folllows through on it about 50% of the time. So whenever he tells me something I simultaneously believe him and not believe him - very 1984. I get it - you're a dreamer - it's like a play, you're playing a role and even you think it's real - that's why it's so convincing. But please don't get pissed off when people call you out on it.
"A stitch in time saves nine"
Also true. I'm totally guilty of ignoring this one in my professional life. Maybe that's why I am where I am in my career and not "higher" despite being a total ninja. I do the things I take pleasure in and neglect the things that require a little bit of forethought, hoping that they will all take care of themselves, or someone else will do it. Of course they usually go tits up and then I end up steeling myself against the inevitable backlash of why I didn't do such and such. And you know what? I couldn't care less. I'm very selfish in that if I don't want to do something, you'll probably never get me to do it, or I'll do it really badly just to piss you off, smiling sweetly all the way.
"You can't see the wood for the trees"
This ones a zinger. Life's forest is a very bewildering place, and sometimes you don't know you were in a situation until you're out of it. Going home always gives me a better perspective about what I'm doing in this country. It's true that "there's no place like home", but at the end of the day you've got to make your own life wherever it has lead you. So while this year there was a promotion with no pay raise, and my engineer wage totally sucks compared to the bean counters on the hill, I'll take solace in the fact that I kind of like what I do, and that I'm in this totally unique country with my own apartment, have enough money do go out pretty much whenever I want, an accent and good enough looks not to scare women off too fast!
"All that glitters is not gold"
Birds love shiny things. I'm always amazed at the high correlation between whether a girl likes something and how shiny it is. But all that glitters is not gold. Anyway I sort of get this one - I guess it's trying to say that things that have the characteristics of something very valuable are not always that valuable after all. No shit Sherlock, there's SO many fake people out there (I hate that word but I can't think of a better one). I saw this dude walking down Fulton Street a couple of weeks ago with a HUGE fake gold chain on. Who are you trying to kid, man? You're not rich, and even if you were I wouldn't respect you - people earn my respect or they don't get it - full stop. Anyway that's why I wear zero bling on my person, apart from my watch which works pretty much every time - thanks Grandad!
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"
Total understatement - a bird in the hand is worth a gazillion in the bush! They say you never know what you have until it's gone, and man when it's gone, it blows.
"Actions speak louder than words"
SO true. What people say and what they do are often 2 different things. Language is often used to communicate your conception of something that you will make happen in the real world. So make it happen! I know this guy who is always talking about what he will do but he only folllows through on it about 50% of the time. So whenever he tells me something I simultaneously believe him and not believe him - very 1984. I get it - you're a dreamer - it's like a play, you're playing a role and even you think it's real - that's why it's so convincing. But please don't get pissed off when people call you out on it.
"A stitch in time saves nine"
Also true. I'm totally guilty of ignoring this one in my professional life. Maybe that's why I am where I am in my career and not "higher" despite being a total ninja. I do the things I take pleasure in and neglect the things that require a little bit of forethought, hoping that they will all take care of themselves, or someone else will do it. Of course they usually go tits up and then I end up steeling myself against the inevitable backlash of why I didn't do such and such. And you know what? I couldn't care less. I'm very selfish in that if I don't want to do something, you'll probably never get me to do it, or I'll do it really badly just to piss you off, smiling sweetly all the way.
"You can't see the wood for the trees"
This ones a zinger. Life's forest is a very bewildering place, and sometimes you don't know you were in a situation until you're out of it. Going home always gives me a better perspective about what I'm doing in this country. It's true that "there's no place like home", but at the end of the day you've got to make your own life wherever it has lead you. So while this year there was a promotion with no pay raise, and my engineer wage totally sucks compared to the bean counters on the hill, I'll take solace in the fact that I kind of like what I do, and that I'm in this totally unique country with my own apartment, have enough money do go out pretty much whenever I want, an accent and good enough looks not to scare women off too fast!
"All that glitters is not gold"
Birds love shiny things. I'm always amazed at the high correlation between whether a girl likes something and how shiny it is. But all that glitters is not gold. Anyway I sort of get this one - I guess it's trying to say that things that have the characteristics of something very valuable are not always that valuable after all. No shit Sherlock, there's SO many fake people out there (I hate that word but I can't think of a better one). I saw this dude walking down Fulton Street a couple of weeks ago with a HUGE fake gold chain on. Who are you trying to kid, man? You're not rich, and even if you were I wouldn't respect you - people earn my respect or they don't get it - full stop. Anyway that's why I wear zero bling on my person, apart from my watch which works pretty much every time - thanks Grandad!
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