Steve Thomas |
Basically, they are small observations of life from a friend of mine. We will group these thoughts under the umbrella term "Mattism." Mattism is loosely defined as "of, or pertaining to, my friend Matt."
Mattism, Chapter 1: Risks. People are afraid to take risks. No one wants to experience the lows of life. In minimizing the experience of the lows, you make the highs more difficult to achieve. Your highs can only be as high as your lows are low. In making the lows higher, the highs become that much more unattainable, and in steps the drug dealer.
Mattism, Chapter 2: Being Alone. The world is not made for single people. Even roller coasters at Astroworld require two people to ride together. Getting to know yourself is something many people don't do anymore. If you can't be alone with yourself, who can you be alone with?
Mattism, Chapter 3: Gender Relations. Women, you're right - he doesn't think like you. Would you be attracted to him if he did? Vive la difference!
Guys, she doesn't want a 16-ounce Estwing framing hammer for her birthday, just like you don't want a bouquet of flowers.
Find out how the other person thinks, and then give them what they want. A large part of attraction is how the other person makes you feel about yourself. If he or she makes you feel like you're something special without subjugation, chances are you'll enjoy being around them. Do the same for them.
Mattism, Chapter 4: People want to be lied to. A local furniture company had a "no nothing sale" - no money down, no interest, no payments until June. We all know the consumer will end up getting screwed later, but just lie to me now, because I don't want to think about the future.
Mattism, Chapter 5: People want things now. Right now, you mean everything to me. Who wants to think about tomorrow? Let's have sex tonight. I don't want to go through the trouble of getting to know you. Who knows? There may not be a second date.
Mattism, Chapter 6: Dissolution of Ethics. Houston is the topless bar capital of the nation. The City Council is mandating a three-foot separation between dancer and customer. This is too little, too late, and it is a half-assed attempt at ethics, or compromised ethics (an oxymoron).
Mattism, Chapter 7: Lack of forethought. No one needs to plan ahead with today's gadgetry (beepers, cell phones, fax machines). Hell, with Telego, you don't even have to decide which phone to use. But it's easier than having to think. The pace of life is getting out of control.
And finally, if you can't draw any nuggets of useful information out of these lessons, remember - sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug.
Thomas is a senior who often feels more
like the windshield wiper.