Musings of An Old Man

by Brian K. Moore

GENERAL OLD SAYINGS

Our observations are influenced by our expectations. Be sure to notice the nice days. There are lots of them. Consider your gut feelings. There may be a…

FAVORITES

Trust yourself. Be worthy of the trust. Respect yourself. Act accordingly. You will be respected. Plan your day. Plan your life. Plan to change your plans,…

ABOUT PATRIOTISM

True patriotism does not include the saying “my country right or wrong.” True patriotism is an endeavor to make your country right. True patriotism is the…

ABOUT STUFF

The stuff in her purse will expand to fill the available space. The stuff in your storage shed will expand to fill the available space. Some times it’s…

ABOUT GROWTH

Growth! Automatically considered good! Like Mom, Apple Pie, 4th of July, The Flag. But growth isn’t just automatically good! Growth can be just what we need…

ABOUT HONESTY

No one is completely honest. The difference between a white lie and a whopper is a matter of degree. People who are generally honest lie about their gas…

ABOUT ANSWERING QUESTIONS

Say what you mean and mean what you say. Answer the question that was asked. Learn to answer a “yes or no” question. Don’t give a “why” answer to a “yes…

ABOUT BELIEVING

A woman will believe anything that anyone except her husband tells her. We tend to believe what we want to believe. Believe only what you believe is…

ABOUT SECRETS

If you can’t keep a secret, don’t expect someone else to keep it for you. It’s only a secret if no one but you knows it. If you don’t want someone to hear…

ABOUT COMMUNICATION

Failure to communicate is the cause of untold problems. Communication is the communicator’s responsibility. The communicator should speak in syllables not…

ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS

Learn to treat other drivers as well as you would treat other pedestrians. Try to think kindly of other drivers. When you meet other drivers socially they…

ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Try to be as nice to your loved ones as you are to strangers. Don’t try to remake your mate, neither of you will like the result. Husbands shouldn’t tell…

ABOUT LEARNING

Formal education is great, but the real world sorts out the things that you really need to know. When college grad friends ask, “Where did you go to…

ABOUT THE FOIBLES OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT

Businesses dump their problems on their customers. (Consider speed bumps, nasty little price stickers, inaccessible packaging). You know you’re in a high…

ABOUT WHAT TO SAY

Don’t let your mouth get you in trouble. What is said cannot be unsaid. If you don’t want someone to hear what you said about them, don’t say it. When…

ABOUT YOUR MODE OF OPERATION

Make rules for yourself. Follow the rules. Be self confident. Trust yourself. Be worthy of the trust. Respect yourself. Act accordingly. You will be…

ABOUT OPINIONS

Don’t defend an opinion just because you already have it. Make each opinion stand on its own If an opinion can’t stand the real world test, discard…

ABOUT MISTAKES

Mistakes: Try to avoid them. Expect to make them. Plan to correct them.

ABOUT SCREW UPS

You are considered a good mechanic when you can fix your own screw ups. You are unique if you never screw up. The only one who never screws up is the one…

ABOUT NOT LOSING THINGS

Rule: Don’t just “put things down,” glasses, cell phone, coat, purse, hearing aid. Place them so that when you leave they will have to go with you.

ABOUT LOSING THINGS

If you put something on the desk, you will likely lose it. If you put it away you are almost sure to forget where it is. If it’s lost, you’ll likely pick…

ABOUT DOING IT WRONG

If there is a 50-50 chance of getting something right, 9 times out of 10 you’ll get it wrong. If there’s a wrong way to do it, you’ll probably find…

ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

It’s more important to know how to find out, than it is to know. The things that we don’t know greatly exceed the things that we know. You are only truly…

ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE

The greatest aid in getting anything done is the belief that you can do it. Don’t take no for an answer until there are no other options. Success is not…

AND FINALLY......

When the more important things are done we should reform the language: Eliminate all double letters. Mississippi would be Misisipi! No consonant would have…

INTRODUCTION

In 1992 Brian started a notebook of “BK’s Old Sayings and Sage Advice” and added to it over the years. These entries were revised, improved and embellished for…