I hate that platitude as much as you do, DakotaT, and it chaps my ass every time some mindless moron uses it. I have been through some shit in my life (most of which I don't talk about here), and I can't think of anything that has really made me stronger -- but I can certainly think of things that have set me back quite a bit.

That being said, I love the line I quoted.

Whoever coined the phrase "Quiet as a mouse" has never stepped on one.

I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian

wpr;182489
I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian

No doubt, if you are one of the lucky ones to eat a Porterhouse on a regular basis, munch the shit out of that bad boy.

Nonstopdrivel;182487I hate that platitude as much as you do, DakotaT, and it chaps my ass every time some mindless moron uses it. I have been through some shit in my life (most of which I don't talk about here), and I can't think of anything that has really made me stronger -- but I can certainly think of things that have set me back quite a bit.

I guess it depends on how you harness it and chose to look at life experiences.. I can both look at 1987 as a growing experience as well as one that ultimately will be my undoing upon this earth. Lying on a gurney, body shaking off of it because they are pumping blood into so fast that they cannot warm it properly, being read last rights and all but expected not to pull though will do such.



For the first couple of years.. it seemed like a life sentence.. how could one recover both mentally and physically. Hope seemed lost.



After some time, I will be very honest.. it made my appreciation for life much greater and to a greater depth. I choose to disregard (for the most part) the tragic and sadden filled aspect of that moment and latched onto the positives (yes there were many).



So yes.. most people that use the cliche' have little understanding from my perspective, but I am not wired into their cerebrum and actually see the world from their aspect. What would seem trivial to me, may seem earth shattering to them.



With that.. I will state that I hate the casual use of such a phrase, how it feels cheap and lacks understanding.. but that doesn't mean that there isn't truth in the words.. just depends on your mindset and interpretation of them in context. 



Basically, tragic life experiences can be very grounding.

Oh.. a quote.. sorry I had to put the pulpit away. ;)

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the fine line between sanity and madness gotten finer?" ~ George Price

Yeah 93, a lot of people don't ever get to piss in the big boy urinal.
Many of which have a main bitch about paying taxes - like that's the end of the world.

wpr;182489Whoever coined the phrase "Quiet as a mouse" has never stepped on one.

Just as anyone who coined the phrase "Sleeping like a baby" has never tried to sleep with one.



P.S. I have been doing my own taxes since I was 16. I don't complain about paying taxes.
I do think it is ridiculous that more than half of the current federal budget is funded not with tax revenues but with borrowing.

Nonstopdrivel;182498

P.S. I have been doing my own taxes since I was 16. I don't complain about paying taxes.
I do think it is ridiculous that more than half of the current federal budget is funded not with tax revenues but with borrowing.

Several years, mine were too complex to do on my own. ](*,)

And agreed.
This country needs to learn to live within its means.

Nonstopdrivel;182487I hate that platitude as much as you do, DakotaT, and it chaps my ass every time some mindless moron uses it. I have been through some shit in my life (most of which I don't talk about here), and I can't think of anything that has really made me stronger -- but I can certainly think of things that have set me back quite a bit.

Listen to you pussies whine..
lol
Time to find your big boy pants!

I have something similar in the shop..

Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law? ~ Dick Clark