2016 New Year's Musings

          People with any appreciable amount of experience understand the truth of the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young."

          Here are a few extensions of the principle:

1. People with a good sense of value understand that wealth is wasted on the rich.
2. People who appreciate beauty understand that artistic talent is wasted on artists.
3. People who have known misfortune understand that luck is wasted on the lucky.
4. People who know the proper uses of force understand that strength is wasted on the strong.
5. People who see all that needs to be done in the world understand that time and effort is wasted on the efficient.  Others who understand the waste of efficient people are those who appreciate a job well done, and those who can sense the personal meaningfulness of mindful work.
6. The wise understand that brains are wasted on the intelligent, truth and knowledge are wasted on the educated, while libraries, pens, paper and word processors are wasted on the literate.
7. People with compassion understand that charitableness and tolerance are wasted on the touchy-feely.
8. Good people understand that morality is wasted on the righteous.

          I could go on.  I imagine the reader could add to the list.  But the point is:
          What are you doing with your gifts?  Using them isn't enough.