Pearls of Wisdom from Tita

One grandma of mine has early, but am beginning to think, mid-term Alzheimer’s. Known to our family as Tita since that is all I could say at an early age as she was coercing me into calling her Abuelita, or grandmother, in Spanish. I visit her once or twice per year in El Paso, Texas and she takes full advantage of the infrequent visits by imparting her words of wisdom. The problem being the Alzheimer’s. I may hear any of the following comments three or four times in the same conversation. Therefore, they are permanently engrained, whether I agree with them or not. I provide some occasional commentary. Enjoy.

There is no right way to do a wrong thing. (Morally speaking, yes, but....)

Do it right or don’t do it at all. 

If there is a will, there is a way. If there is no will, there are 100 excuses. (My personal favorite and agree, people find a way if it is important enough. Click here for more.)

A leopard never changes its spots. (Which means people don’t change. I think we obviously change and evolve throughout life but not core beliefs. If someone promises it (in business, spouse, etc) will be better next time, it probably will not.)

When in doubt, don’t. (My least favorite. There is doubt in almost every decision I make. It is irresponsible to think you know 100%. A lot of people have doubt and therefore don’t take chances leading to a less fulfilling life. Click here for more.)

People are like water, they seek their own level. (She is saying people associate themselves with others of the same socio-economic level.)

You make your luck. (Couldn't agree more and have written about it before. Are certain people really lucky? Or do they work harder and put themselves in more positions to be lucky? I say the latter.)

The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. (Unless the tree is on a cliff. I agree if the parents were a big part of the child’s life.)

Be careful what you wish for, you a liable to get it. And I am talking about a wife.

What you do the night before is not worth what you have to pay the next day.(Quite a few college students would disagree here.)

1 minute of immeasurable pleasure is not worth paying for the rest of your life. (Ask Tiger, he will agree)

Sometime marriage ruins a perfectly good relationship.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. (Everytime I pop my knuckles she says this one. Health Eating applies too.)

Heaven and Hell are right here, it is what you make it. (Big fan of this one. Spending time in an African village would change your opinion here. They have what we would consider hell, but you would not know it. It is just a matter of perspective.)

Her new favorite joke that is spot on: There are three things that happen when you get older: 1. You get older. (Pause) I don’t remember the other two. It got laughs every time after were heard the aforementioned phrases three times each. 

I will leave you with what she said upon learning I was leaving yesterday. "But you are going to leave before I see you again?" 

Yes Tita, by definition I must.