| F.I.S.H.-Faith, Integrity, Sense of Humor |
People often ask me how I can stay so positive despite all I have been through. Well, "been
through" is subjective. Ask a child with progeria (the aging disease) if they think I have had it
rough. From his or her perspective, I have probably had it rather easy. I hate clichés, but really
and truly, it could be worse. I have food, shelter, and a loving family. Not too bad, I think.
What follows is the basis of SpongeOsophy-the core of what keeps me going through the "bad
times." Please remember that your Faith, Integrity, and Sense of Humor are things that no one
can take away from you except you. People and events can make your life rough, but giving up
your F.I.S.H. is your choice. Guard these with your life, for your life may one day depend on them.
through" is subjective. Ask a child with progeria (the aging disease) if they think I have had it
rough. From his or her perspective, I have probably had it rather easy. I hate clichés, but really
and truly, it could be worse. I have food, shelter, and a loving family. Not too bad, I think.
What follows is the basis of SpongeOsophy-the core of what keeps me going through the "bad
times." Please remember that your Faith, Integrity, and Sense of Humor are things that no one
can take away from you except you. People and events can make your life rough, but giving up
your F.I.S.H. is your choice. Guard these with your life, for your life may one day depend on them.
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FAITH
This does not necessarily mean religion, but it does for me. Faith can also mean faith in one's
self. Knowing what you are and what you stand for are important. No matter how bad things get,
stay true to your core values, and people (including you) will admire you for the consistency of
your character.
For me, though, it also means faith in a just and loving God. Although my life may be difficult, I
know in my heart that when this life is over a better one waits for me. I will have a life with no
pain, no poverty, and no pigeons to make my life hard to take.
Having Faith also helps me when I wonder why something bad has happened. While I do not
enjoy what has happened to me, I know that God has a plan. He has allowed these things to
happen to me for some reason I do not understand. In some ways I am glad for my difficulties.
If I had not been through the abuse, surgeries, brushes with death, etc., I might not have had the
strength of character necessary to stay at my second wife's side while she spent 5 weeks in a
coma last year. What I have been through gave me what it took to help her when she needed
me, and for that I am thankful.
self. Knowing what you are and what you stand for are important. No matter how bad things get,
stay true to your core values, and people (including you) will admire you for the consistency of
your character.
For me, though, it also means faith in a just and loving God. Although my life may be difficult, I
know in my heart that when this life is over a better one waits for me. I will have a life with no
pain, no poverty, and no pigeons to make my life hard to take.
Having Faith also helps me when I wonder why something bad has happened. While I do not
enjoy what has happened to me, I know that God has a plan. He has allowed these things to
happen to me for some reason I do not understand. In some ways I am glad for my difficulties.
If I had not been through the abuse, surgeries, brushes with death, etc., I might not have had the
strength of character necessary to stay at my second wife's side while she spent 5 weeks in a
coma last year. What I have been through gave me what it took to help her when she needed
me, and for that I am thankful.
INTEGRITY
This is one of the core rules of our home. Do not lie to me. If you lie to me, my ability to trust you
with facts and situations will be diminished. If you lie to me enough, you become a liar, and I
want nothing to do with you.
When the chips are down, people need to know they can count on you. If you are not trustworthy
or have done them dirty do you think they might be there when you need them? If you make
promises and break them, how can you expect others to keep their promises to you?
I will not lie, cheat or steal to improve my lot in life. I was once an accountant for a shady
businessman. Yes, the money was great, but sleeping was difficult. I may not have much in the
way of material things now, but I can look at the man in the mirror again.
with facts and situations will be diminished. If you lie to me enough, you become a liar, and I
want nothing to do with you.
When the chips are down, people need to know they can count on you. If you are not trustworthy
or have done them dirty do you think they might be there when you need them? If you make
promises and break them, how can you expect others to keep their promises to you?
I will not lie, cheat or steal to improve my lot in life. I was once an accountant for a shady
businessman. Yes, the money was great, but sleeping was difficult. I may not have much in the
way of material things now, but I can look at the man in the mirror again.
SENSE OF HUMOR
You must nurture your ability to laugh. There just might come a time in your life when you realize
that your sense of humor is the only muscle that works anymore. I will avoid the "make lemonade"
cliché, but you really should try to see the good side of everything. A nice thing about having so
much of my insides removed is that if one of my redneck cousins asks me to do something
stupid, when I refuse and they say, "Don't you have any guts?" I can look them in the eye and
truthfully say, "Well, not as much as I used to!" Sometimes when I lose control of my bowels in my
sleep or in public, I have the urge to complain. However, I remind myself of my motto, "When you
have Crohn's, sh_t happens."
When things are going really bad it helps to force yourself to laugh. Myself, I watch some movie
that I know will make me laugh. Norman Cousins talked about the healing power of laughter. In
my opinion, this is valid to a point. Laughter may not heal your body, but it will heal your spirit. We
need a strong spirit to cope with the tribulations life throws at us.
Sometimes I watch the movie "Hawks" and put on my red clown nose. It is difficult to look in a
mirror when wearing this stupid red foam nose and not have my spirits lifted. Please see the
page titled "red nose" for more on this subject.
that your sense of humor is the only muscle that works anymore. I will avoid the "make lemonade"
cliché, but you really should try to see the good side of everything. A nice thing about having so
much of my insides removed is that if one of my redneck cousins asks me to do something
stupid, when I refuse and they say, "Don't you have any guts?" I can look them in the eye and
truthfully say, "Well, not as much as I used to!" Sometimes when I lose control of my bowels in my
sleep or in public, I have the urge to complain. However, I remind myself of my motto, "When you
have Crohn's, sh_t happens."
When things are going really bad it helps to force yourself to laugh. Myself, I watch some movie
that I know will make me laugh. Norman Cousins talked about the healing power of laughter. In
my opinion, this is valid to a point. Laughter may not heal your body, but it will heal your spirit. We
need a strong spirit to cope with the tribulations life throws at us.
Sometimes I watch the movie "Hawks" and put on my red clown nose. It is difficult to look in a
mirror when wearing this stupid red foam nose and not have my spirits lifted. Please see the
page titled "red nose" for more on this subject.
This is the most important "FISH" you will ever have. Be sure you don't grow old and lament
the one that got away.
Be well,
Sponge
originally written Spring of 2003
the one that got away.
Be well,
Sponge
originally written Spring of 2003