Friends of Dave #219: have you seen my pet rooster?
If you're having "You" problems, I feel bad for you, son....
NOTE: the free platform I use to produce the FoD, Revue, was having some stability issues on Friday night...in addition it has switched up its default template so this will look a bit different in the future.
So...I am not sure if this will actually go out as scheduled or how it will look. I was also having some issues including articles I had bookmarked, so there will be less curated stories this week than usual...
I suppose these could all be filed under "ME" problems....Apologies!
Our 10 year old is a funny kid. Being the fourth and much younger than his older siblings, he always brings an interesting point of view to dinner conversations.
Recently one of his older brothers was complaining about a super important issue with something (I honestly cannot remember what the specifics were, so that likely means the subject involved some combination of whining about their followers on social media, selfies, Tik Tok or some other annoying Gen Z BS).
As the angst quickly began to fill the room and I sought refuge in the happy place in my head, my youngest must have been listening to the whole thing.
Obviously he wasn’t skilled enough yet to recognize the importance of self preservation in these instances…sucks for him.
Suddenly, just as quickly as it started, the intense barrage of BS whining and complaining came to a merciful end.
Before anyone around the dinner table could say something, the 10 year old, without looking up from his plate and realizing what he was saying, proclaimed in his infinite wisdom:
“Uh, seems like that’s a ‘You’ problem dude.”
There was a moment of stunned silence and then laughter all around. Score one for the fourth grader.
The funniest part of his observation is that it doesn’t just apply to social media obsessed teens. We can all fall intro a trap of self absorption and self pity from time to time.
There are times when we all have deal with our own "You" problems.
I don’t like how my clothes fit because I put on weight during COVID....That’s a “You” problem dude.
I can’t stand my spouse/kids/neighbor/co-workers....That’s a “You” problem dude.
I didn’t get the raise I thought I deserved because my boss is a jerk...That’s a “You” problem dude.
I didn’t make my quota because the product sucks or I didn’t get good enough leads from marketing....That’s a “You” problem dude.
My life isn't going the way I think it should be going...That's a "You" problem dude.
I wish I had more people liking my photos on Instagram....That's DEFINITELY a "You" problem dude.
It's really easy to feel sorry for yourself and belly ache when things are not going your way. You can find a way to rationalize just about anything.
And often instead of dealing with our own "You" problems, we take a detour and look for other people's "You" problems.
It can be a lot easier and more comforting doing that than dealing with our own "You" problems.
When that happens, stay in your lane, bro.
The "You" problems are called "You" problems for a reason. They will continue to be "You" problems because there is only one person that can fix those. It ain't me or anyone else that you can't see in a mirror.
And you don't need to be smarter than a fourth grader to figure that out.
Again, new look for the FoD in the future. Hopefully the technical difficulties will be worked out by next week. Thanks for sticking with me!
XOXO
Dave
Think on This...
The Unexpected Antidote to Procrastination
Have that difficult conversation. Listen without defensiveness when your colleague criticizes you. Name the elephant in the room. Get rejected.
Good quick read for those who fall victim to putting things off.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
How Global Health and Wealth Has Changed Over Two Centuries This unique animated visualization uses health and wealth measurements to chart the evolution of countries over time.
Teen reunites with pet rooster after losing it at Alabama Cracker Barrel
So much to unpack here.....NY Post, teen and a pet rooster, a Civil War re-enactment, and an Alabama Cracker Barrel.....wow....
A Chick-fil-A manager saved a drive-thru Covid-19 vaccination clinic after traffic backed up
"When I heard about it, I called Jerry and asked if he would come help us out," Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie told CNN. "After he looked it over, he said, 'There's your problem right there. It's backed up because you have one person checking people in.' Then he showed us how to do it right."
Hats off to you, Jerry. Good thing this didn't happen on a Sunday!
Alaska woman using outhouse attacked by bear, from below
A bear attacks you while you are using an "outhouse"? That's a "You" problem dude.
And The Last Word....
The Golden Age of Free Stuff Is Upon Us — www.nytimes.com
The pandemic has spawned an enormous wave of items tossed out on streets or put out on curbsides — including kitchen sinks, a Korean wedding chest and even a Tiffany bracelet.
Hey! Did you learn something this week? Did you laugh? If you are enjoying this newsletter, help me spread the word!
Please forward it, share bits on social media, and encourage others to join the growing community of Friends of Dave!