Goodness, Gracious, so Sagacious! Re-Simplify

Re-Solving for X, Factor: The variable so many of us are still busy, a buzzing about, trying to isolate from y, z,...the popularity of which has raised it to inter-national status as in "X Factor USA...UK..." which could, if you play your cards right (as in really slick card tricks which even has "Simon says..."). An ultimate challenge which, for me, took me into highly complex formu-lations as in "Quadratic" which curiously took me and you, perhaps, all the way back to earlier times, as in the variables of a, b, and c...and eventually with the assist of computers and a professor who induced in us so-called "grad students" a new, higher appreciation for how to take a complex set of variables and derive some meaning, as to what's most impactful and even in what order, as in "Factor Analysis" SUPER😎! For me, in today's re-surgence of so many talking, raising up the specter of this mystery variable, the one we so often seek out, try to isolate, and eventually "solve" for, even account for which, these days can come up in convos about the essential ingredients in relationships, business success (or opposite in each case😟😢). An example of which got me thinking -- who better to re-call upon to solve, reduce such a complex set of variables swirling around us these days, than a humble sage that walked in the midst of our extended family and friends ("no one a stranger") came to be known simply as "Nana" -- a "lady" (a term that really meant what it said back then) I introduced you to about a year ago here...in the context of a "compare and contrast" exercise (a favorite of my favorite grad school professor) as in, after I had a about a decade of experience in my field, when I thought for sure I knew her mind-set, I asked Nana "do you think this generation growing up appreciates how easy they have it compared to the depression years you grew up in...? Only after a brief pause, the reply that not only humbled me but left me even more an admirer..."Oh, honey, kids these days have it so hard, things are happening so fast, so many decisions to make...we had it so much easier, simpler...while not possessing a lot we ate dinner together, enjoyed the company of our friends...all the things that kept us...together..." (As I told you back then, a few hundred posts ago, this was well before the internet was distributing, 'dis'-seminating all kinds of miss-information all over the world). So here, I am taking the opportunity and with a bit more 'bandwidth', to once more attempt to X-trapolate what I think she'd say and add-vise us...regarding the complexity, the HUGE set of variables, choices...all the so-called X-factors...

"Over-rated, no substitution: I really believe it, that she would comment on all that the youngsters are being X-posed to at such a younger age, at an even more break-neck pace..."They are definitely suffering from over X-posure, there really is no need for such a rating system...back then we actually had Parental Guidance, for which there was no government or so-called NGA substitute...we as parents had already come to the realization, without such over-sights, that if this rubbish (the word they had used commonly for garbage, well before 'non-recyclables' were isolated, separated...appointed times and containers...it was so much simpler...) wasn't healthy for developing minds it probably did not need to be consumed by so-called grown-ups...for our own well-being..." And further on, when we started forming more meaning-full relationships...I can also re-sonate on her earlier advice, commentary, regarding such...

Tinder Moments:  As in add-vice on relationships. Actually, try as I might, I could not recall even one instance, that Nana actually rendered wisdom through words (as in "words of wisdom") but rather via deed on this important domain of life. That is, by showing "genuine interest". Whenever we had a friend stop by or someone we were otherwise "seeing" (as in "you seeing anyone these days?") Nana would WOW! them by turning off the TV, dropping anything else she was doing, and instead pick up a tray of cookies or whatever (the always present dish containing mints was already, always out for the taking, and we did, generously) and simply ask "so how are you, what are you up to these days...?" Rapt, un-divided attention. Leaving them, and me, wanting more...lasting impressions indeed on how to really build and sustain meaning-full relationships. On the other hand, another take on wisdom through the ages, regarding tenderness and 'sustainability'...

"Expand, Multiply": Or, in more "Biblical" terms, "Be fruitful and multiply" -- words that my in-laws-to-be took to heart on the way to raising seven children...under one roof with ONE bathroom. A complex equation which could only be solved, simplified by one of the oldest mathematical axioms..."take a number" The only exception to this time-honored formula for keeping order..."unless you absolutely cannot hold it any longer"😖😓😌

Just a reminder: and a formula for simplifying your life, a resolution you may have started on early last month...ways for healthy and abundant living through simplicity, and other-wise, wince again, giving you even more of an appreciation for better living through math😉 "You're Welcome"