Friends of Dave #419: 📸 one hour photo 🎞️
A few observations to kick off the year
Here’s what I have been thinking about lately Friends:
I happened to rewatch the 1984 classic The Terminator recently. Do you remember when “the future” was set? You know that bleak, dystopian time where the world was completely overrun machines driven by artificial intelligence that sent Arnold Schwarzenegger back in time to kill the mother of the leader of the resistance? It was 2029. 🤯
Interesting way to view it now: get a someone under the age of 25 to watch it with you and it is essentially a time capsule. Big hair, phone books, pay phone booths, answering machines, cars with AM radios that require a physical key to start, Sony Walkman with cassette tapes. They can’t imagine getting sent back in time to 1984 and figuring out how to operate under those conditions.
And to think around that same time it was mind blowing to all of us to get sent back to 1955 in a DeLorean….
While I try to show empathy as much as possible, I am finding that I have less and less patience for people who choose to play the victim when things do not go their way (particularly if it is as a result of their own actions). Crappy stuff happens at one time or another. We are not special — it happens to everyone at some point. And yes, it sucks when it does. The best thing we can do is grin and bear it, accept the terms of our situation, and do what we can to change our trajectory. Seeking and accepting assistance as we do the work is fine. Playing the victim and looking for pity, however, never solves the problem.
Conversely I’m finding that I have increasing admiration for people who are able to live their life on their own terms. Consistently navigating the ups and downs of our journey on ones own terms takes discipline, adaptability, thought and talent. In my experience, few people are able to do it consistently well.
When you think about it, living life on your own terms means choosing to play an active role in determining the course of your journey. It’s hard. I guess that’s why so many people choose to take the “easier” route and let life happen to them….
This is probably blasphemy given where I live, but Dunkin’ Donuts really is just Taco Bell before noon.
I don’t know why but I’m weirdly amused and obsessed with the character “Domingo” on SNL. After the show pulled off a successful second act, I am waiting to see if they can do it again. If so, I am convinced we will see a whole movie centered around the character within the next year.
Continue to get validation that the best, most effective leaders are the ones that simply lead by example.
Following up from my resolution to make the most of my opportunities in 2025 (and to try follow the path of living my life on my own terms), I’m going prioritize putting less focus and weight on worrying about the things on my “to-do” list and more of my time on simple experiences with a high ROI like:
Driving with the top down on my car
Listening to music
Watching more sunrises or a sunsets
Walking to the beach or hiking in the mountains
Enjoying quality time with the people closest to me
Looking for a great gift? Maybe something to spruce up a Super Bowl spread in a few weeks? Friends, look no further than a soft pretzel box from Eastern Standard Provisions. Thank me later.
Want to know what the biggest problem society is going to be facing over the next decade or so? Not social media. Not drinking or recreational drugs. It’s gambling. You can bet on this. Just from hanging out with members of our extended family over the holidays, scary to see it’s influence on our young people.
Is it me and maybe the fact that our kids are no longer little or are holiday/Christmas cards becoming paseé and going the way of the dodo?
This edition officially marks the beginning of year #8 of the weekly FoD newsletter……8 years, people….
Not surprisingly, I know I have more rants and observations in me, but I am going to stop here for now.
Back at you soon.
XOXO
Dave
And now a few things to make you smarter…
What does it take to join the top 1% of income earners in America?
Well, it depends on where you live. In some states, your annual income needs to crack $1 million to be among the state’s income elite—in others, it takes less than half of that to make the cut.
This graphic illustrates the income needed to be in the top 1% of earners in each state. The data was compiled by SmartAsset as of June 2024.
We all make our choices based on our unique tastes, interests and personality. There’s a core in life that is relatively universal — things we all need to do simply because we are human beings. Interesting list of foundations that could be considered essential for a good life.
Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians first played “Auld Lang Syne” live on the radio on New Year’s Eve in 1929. By the 1940s, it had become a national tradition. Here’s the story why.
"It was such a specific, strange series of noises that is instantly recognizable to anyone who lived during the time of dial-up modems."
As we age, certain things we could do back in the day would be considered weird to do today. So when Reddit user u/Red_Baronnsfw asked the r/AskOldPeople community, "What's one thing normal at your time but is now bizarre to even think about?" Many people provided their thoughts. Here's what they said.
To appreciate what you have is to recognize the value of the people, things and world around you, as well as your own attributes – and to treat all of these with the care and consideration they deserve. As a result, to better face an imperfect world, try a deeper reflection on the things, people and legacies that make your life possible.