Is Your Cake Half Eaten Or Half Full?
At times life moves so quickly that we don’t take the time to slow down and truly appreciate those things and people we can be thankful for during this time of year. My wife, who very early on told me that the key to my being a good partner was “paying attention”, upped her game once again by sliding that cake pictured above under my nose at the conclusion of our family Thanksgiving meal. At first I thought it was pretty clever of my family to arrange this amazingly playful, chocolate- raspberry homage to my novel, THE GUYS’ GUY’S GUIDE TO LOVE. Then (I was paying attention) I peeked over at my wife from the corner of my eye and saw her trademark beaming smile and her genuine delight in my surprise. I realized that she was the architect of the cake surprise. So, I am one lucky and thankful Guy’s Guy to have a partner who is so thoughtful and loves me despite all of my glaring flaws. Thank you, Uni Manni. My cake is more than half full and I am hungrier than ever.
Things Are Tough Out There, So What’s There To Be Thankful For?
True, yet I was inspired when most people I know said that they had a wonderful break from the action last week that was accompanied by picture perfect weather and time well spent with good friends and family. That’s the spirit. Yes, the economy is broken and at times people’s behavior can be transparently self-serving and appalling. Maybe all we have is each other and the world is one giant-sized dysfunctional family. Maybe that’s our message and something we need to acknowledge and do our best to be thankful for. If you can’t find a way to be thankful, life can become a long, boring drive through the Holland Tunnel, and we‘re better than that. In this Guys’ Guy’s opinion, we are here to enjoy the ride, so roll down that convertible top, and start paying attention. There is a guy or a woman out there ready to rock your world. It can happen, but you need to open up and participate in the process.
But I’m Over Thirty And Sometimes It Feels Like My Cake Is Going Stale.
Your cake is sweeter than ever. If you are a guy, the urban landscape is a Candyland filled with smart, pretty, interesting women who are looking to meet a great guy. Make that a Guy’s Guy. So take a break from your fantasy football league and pay attention. That special lady may be passing through your universe, but you’re not going to notice or connect with her with that Wii control in your hand.
And ladies, if you want to understand why guys have all of these quirks like squeezing ketchup on way too many foods and wearing those damn baseball caps indoors, then give your “list” a much needed rest and open that perceptual window so you can see how interesting and nice guys can be if you give them a chance. I’m not suggesting that you lower your standards or settle, but at least take the time to check out life through what may at a distance seem like a blurry, testosterone-fueled lens. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you learn about guys and you may find that there is a lot of cake still on the table.
Are You Ready To Have Your Cake And Eat It, Too?