Sock Drawer Psychology

So what does your sock drawer look like?    Mixed, sorted, sparse or overflowing?  Is it the top drawer, or bottom?  Is there an organizer or not?  Are the socks bundled or laying flat? Where do you keep stranded single socks (if at all) awaiting a possible pairing? 

My drawer (actually a basket) is a bundled mix of non-sorted socks overflowing with singles intermixed and hidden from view.  Not exactly the epitome of someone who tends to be very organized. 

At my Vistage meeting, I made the observation that there is a growing trend in males wearing fashionable socks (even I received some "Happy Socks" as a Christmas present last year).  The history of socks (including missing socks) is rich and interesting -  see Lonely Sock narrative.  Ever since I can remember, Ellen wears non matching colorful pattern socks (something a obsessed symmetric  mathematician like me could never do). 

Hidden socks allows the introvert the mysterious ability to make his/her own fashion statement (that is until they cross their legs for all to see).  But what of those individuals that purposely wear no socks - what's the psychology of the "naked penny loafer"?

The "no sock" fetish would make sock drawer organization easy - and free some space for other unmentionables even more hidden from view.

Relationship Keys

What's on your key ring?  No not how many keys or what those keys are for (although that would be interesting blog for another day).  No,  I'm wondering what key ring pendant or non key device houses or co-occupies the ring with your keys.

I have three sets of keys.  Two sets of the three are unique by car and only contain the car key and the keyless entry device.  General Motors would be proud of me for this as it avoids their recent liability associated with over weighted keys next to the ignition that caused their large recall.  The third set of keys consist of all other keys that I use for household, office, etc. 

On the third set of keys (the non car keys) are two important items - both given to me as a gift.
(1) The first was Jenna's Christmas gift to me when she was 7 years old.  A metal medallion picture of a driver in a car with the words: "Dad, I LOVE YOU.  Please Drive Carefully".
(2) The second gift is a Swiss Army knife with my initials engraved that I received from Susan as a gift 10 years ago on Fathers Day.

The Chevy Tahoe keys are housed with Ellen's Christmas gift to me when she was in third grade.  The identifier on this ring is the word: Dad.

Each time I pull out the keys to use I'm reminded of the KEY PEOPLE in my life.

Kidding - Really or Raillery?

Yes,  I have that trait - was my response to A.M. about the good, the bad, and the ugly of "giving people a hard time."  The problem A.M. instructed isn't in the delivery (good, bad, or ugly) but in the inability to control how it is interpreted. 

In Adam Smith's letter after the death of David Hume (Nov. 1776) - "His constant pleasantry was the genuine effusion of good nature and good humour tempered with delicacy and modesty, and without even the slightest tincture of malignity, so frequently the disagreeable source of what is called wit in other men. It never was the meaning of his raillery to mortify; and, therefore, far from offending, it seldom failed to please and delight, even those who were the objects of it."

To know me is to put up with my kidding.  Annoying?   yes ......  but better to be worthy of raillery than subject to silent disdain.

Time to Worry

The lesson in Sunday evening's fellowship group was about worry.  I think at the root of worry is time.  Every self help book you read (including the Bible) suggests that you concentrate your attention on the present.  Worrying about past events, or future activities is not a productive use of your time.  But what about - learning lessons from the past;  or planning your goals and future.  Those activities take time and can accrue benefits to the individual.

The problem becomes with worry overcomes the optimal time for reflecting on the past and future.  Worry can evolve into stress;  Overpowering stress becomes unhealthy.  Unhealthy bodies lose time in life. 

So - what is the antidote to worry.  Action can be one potential antidote.  Action takes time and usually eliminates the time available to worry.  "Just do it" comes to mind.  Or Bob Edward's famous one liner - "So what are you going to do about it".

Concentrating on what you can control (in Covey's language your circle of influence) and keeping what you can't control out of your "worry space", can be perfect visual to help you spend less time worrying.

Covey's Circle of Influence

 

 Worry is a way of feeling you can influence something totally outside your control.  If you spend more time worrying,  the only thing you change is your time -  less time. 

Worry about that.  :)

Wise ----ner Blogs

"Wisdom is knowledge applied to life"  Ron Blue says in his book "Splitting Heirs... Giving Money and Things to your Children without Ruining their Lives".

 It was one of the first books I commented on at Amazon.com (April 6, 2004) ten years ago.  How ironic that I was moved to re-read the book back in February after listening to William High's spiritual message about giving (http://garenwisner.blogspot.com/2015/02/whats-question.html). 

Ron Blue goes on to write, "Wealth never creates wisdom, wisdom may create Wealth".  I believe the ultimate test for you in the category of wisdom/wealth, is choosing the steward of your wisdom and/or wealth (e.g. teaching your ethics and giving away your assets).  The fool spends wealth to zero or spends no time thinking of giving.  That becomes the most selfish form of misusing God's assets.

"Giving time and money is your best deposit to becoming wise."

and.......  "He {[GOD]  gives Wisdom to the Wise"  Daniel  2:21

http://biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/blogs/2013/07/23/how-to-become-wise/

                                                         
                                      

Hidden Treasures of Coincidence

I can see why archeology is interesting.  When you discover something (a physical object) and wonder what it is; how it was used; what was the context; who owned it; how did it affect lives and relationships.  A.M and I were talking about some old papers that were discovered by his son and it caused me to reflect on the books and bibles that Dad recently asked if I wanted to take back to Ohio with me. 

I can't stand the idea of books being trashed so naturally I boxed them up and brought them home.  When Susan saw the large Bible that my Great Aunt had given to Mom she wanted to display it in our bedroom. 

Easter Sunday B.H. (from Men's Friday Morning Bible Study) got to know each other better.  He mentioned that he is a Christian Scientist. I told him that my Great Aunt was a devote Christian Scientist and that I was the proud owner of the large print Bible that she had given our family.  He immediately said that my Aunt must have been a "Reader" and proceeded to educate me on the Christian Scientist Sunday services.

Now that Bible is much more meaningful to me.  It was probably the Bible Aunt Mayme used as a Reader during the Sunday services.  Even more meaningful since Good Friday was the completion of Armstrong Methodist Church oral reading of the Bible during Lent (something Susan has lead for the last two years).