Fortune Cookie Friday: Life, There’s No App for That

Have you ever stopped and asked someone for directions? Have you ever asked them to repeat themselves? Why do we do that? Well, no one wants to get lost. Let’s face it, not everyone can remember what was said the first go around. Most people don’t even write the directions down. They just put it to “memory” and work from there.

How embarrassed would you be if you only asked once, started out in the right direction, only to find you forgot which way to turn at the first fork in the road? Admit it; we’ve all been there. Now you have to find someone else, or worse, go back and ask the same person, and get the directions again. Ugh! Look at all of that time you wasted.

Now, I know that we have these nifty little devices with Google Maps™, or whatever, running on them. We could easily look up directions to our destination; find the fasted route, and the best place to park near it. Our society is a little spoiled, to tell you the truth. Did you know that there’s a growing number of people who have never heard of key maps? If you don’t know what it is, google it.

Unfortunately, these devices don’t work with life. You can’t turn on your phone and type in, “How can I succeed in college?” You can’t find the answer to, “How can I live to a ripe old age?” You won’t get the best directions to, “How can I have a fulfilling relationship?”

I’m sure some of you just tried typing in at least one of those questions into a search engine. So, what did you find? Oh, you’ll get some links to some well-referenced articles, but will they really answer all of your questions? Probably not, so you will have to ask some more.

Not every answer will work for every individual either. That tip about not studying in your dorm room might be good, but what if you decide college isn’t your thing? All of those old people, telling you prunes are the fountain of youth, can make your stomach turn. Looking for a fulfilling relationship? Here, let me save you some time. It’s not always about you, don’t make excuses, honesty is the best policy, and communication is key.

Much like measure twice, cut once, this fortune reminds us that failure is an option. We run through life, looking for answers, as if we are running out of time, but forget to stop and ask the right questions. Sometimes the best questions are the ones we ask ourselves; like, “Is this a good use of my time?” “What do I hope to get out of this?” “Where did I leave my keys?” We should ask these questions more than once, so we really take time to understand ourselves. Listen people, it’s life; there’s no app for that.

It is said, “Ask, and you shall receive.” I say, “Ask twice and you won’t lose it.”