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| Vol.3.115 | |
When in Doubt, Don'tby Vince PoscenteAuthor of The Ant and the Elephant, Invinceable Principles and The Age of Speed Flowers can say, "I love you." Flowers may say, "I'm sorry." Flowers might also say, "I want your girlfriend." The story goes back to ski racing days when traveling to far away mountain ranges. With so much time on the road, home seemed to be a chance encounter. There was one guy on the team who traveled so much it made more sense for him to hang his hat at his girlfriend's place.
One such visit he happened to be alone in her house before leaving on a trip to Italy. The doorbell rang innocently enough. Standing in the doorway was a flower delivery dude. Dressed in an ill fitting green uniform, his name badge said, Tyler, yet his red eyes screamed, Cookie Monster. "I have a delivery of a dozen red roses for Denise." But apparently when a guy from a flower shop (who personifies the word pot in potted plant) reads Denise, he's prone to say "Dennis." My speed skiing teammate Eric was fast on his feet and instantly replied. "Oh - I'm Dennis." He tipped the guy, more for the intel than the flowers. Then Eric did something he had persistent second thoughts about. So much so he brought it up several times as we traveled to Stelvio. "I took the card off and read it. It was from a guy trying to steal my girlfriend. So I ripped the card up and put my name on the flowers. Then I left. Do you think it was wrong?" Interesting question. The Renaissance English poet and playwright, John Lyly wrote in 1578, "The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war." This is generally regarded as the origin of "All's fair in love and war." Me thinks, any cliche that has lasted that long must have some merit to it. Here we have Eric, getting a visceral precursor of a Dear John letter. In this case, with his love for Denise and war against the competing suitor, he made an impulse decision. To Eric, in that instant, "It was fair." The question still is - Was it the right thing to do? To the person it mattered to the most, Denise (or if you're listening to Pink Floyd and eating Twinkies with abandon - Dennis) then no - it was the wrong thing to do. To her, Eric's action was unforgivable. What would you have done in the heat of the moment? Maybe I would have left a message on the underside of the commode seat. "Hey Mouth Breather. Leave my girlfriend alone." Ahh, but in this article we have the advantage of premeditated thought. The best advice I know is this. The fastest way to know what to do is a simple litmus test my mom taught me years ago. When in doubt. Don't.Unless you're sending flowers to my wife. Then - Dude - the rules of love and war may supercede Mom's advice. Until next week, it's full speed ahead,
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© 2010 Vince Poscente. All Rights Reserved. |
