That’s what I was gonna say!

I’m a writer, right? I’m supposed to have the right words at my disposal, whenever and wherever I need them, right?

If you believe that, I have some oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you. It’s beautiful property. It’s right on the beach, you’ll love it. Trust me!

Photo by Mirko Fabian on Pexels.

I was trying to write about how change is all around us and how life likes to trick us, how we’re headed in one direction and then it has a way of surprising us. We hit a dead-end or come to a crossroads or Y in the road. We have to make a change in our direction.

I struggled to come up with the right words to explain the situation and, then when I least expected, I happened to be scrolling on social media and saw this old clip from the television show Modern Family (season 10, episode 11). It hit the nail on the head. It quickly put words to what I couldn’t.

Jay, the patriarch of the family, sounding more like a philosopher along the lines of Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, or Thomas Aquinas, rather than an old curmudgeon says: “Let me tell you something about life. We all have this illusion that we’re in control. I wanted to play pro football, some guy takes my knee out. I graduate from school, I’m gonna drive my motorcycle across country and some suit pulls my draft number. I work my ass off to send my daughter to college, some juggler knocks her up . . . “

“. . . All I’m saying is things are always gonna change and you have to deal with it. But the good news is five years from now while you’re playing with your grandkid, you won’t even remember today.”

So, life changes and you move on. Why didn’t I think of explaining it like that?

Discover more from Writing from the Heart with Brian

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

46 thoughts on “That’s what I was gonna say!”

      1. I often think of The Road Not Taken when I’ve been out mushroom picking. I come to a big tree and there is scrubby stuff on one side of it and a hint of a path on the other side. I take the scrubby side (the road less travelled by), and almost always find a mushroom.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. That’s a great description of life. I feel like the longer I live, the less I think I know what’s going to happen tomorrow and just try to stay open to all the changes. It’s less “grab the tiger by the tail” and more “let’s try to ride the tiger.” Great post that captures so much of this experience!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I like how you phrased that Wynne. I might have to use that phrase in my next meeting: “let’s grab on and try to ride the tiger.” Okay, maybe jargon, but you know what, it’s better than a lot of phrases and oh so correct. Thank you. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  8. We do have an illusion that we are in control Brian! Things are always going to change for sure. You’re right, each of us have to make a change in “our” direction. Great message and congrats for finding the words you were going to say!!! 😜👍🏼🥰

    Like

  9. I love Modern Family and all the different dynamics between the characters such as Jay and Phil. And what he has to say is so true. The only constant thing in life is change.

    As an aside, I’d love to see them revisit this show 10-20 years from now with the same actors. It’ll be wonderful.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Our illusion of control is a hard one to nail down Brain, and you do so in this post so beautifully. I read somewhere that life is what happens when we’re busy making plans. So true. Hugs, C

    Like

Comments are closed.

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

Discover more from Writing from the Heart with Brian

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading