“C’est Reparti”

It is at this time of the year – the beginning - where we pop our head up, ala Punxsutawney Phill style, to try and determine how long “it” will continue.

Unfortunately, the shadow of obliviousness was seen. And we all know what that means. (Sigh)

The 3-M’s

Since its inception, the Benefit Funds have repeatedly used the newsletter to discuss, point out, educate, and update members of the “goings-on’s” within the various Benefit Funds. And, as you know, we often use the medium to repeatedly review the provisions of certain benefits that participants often misinterpret, misunderstand, or miscalculate.

We do the latter, not because we have to - we don’t. But solely because we are not interested in anyone failing in their lives.

However, there are those, many actually, that make us question whether or not the Funds newsletter and other communications makes a difference or even matters.

Now, if you know anything about us, you know that we hate seeing people fail, and that we are predisposed to keeping the search for truth always at the forefront and that we deplore getting stuck in any mind-set that doesn’t allow us to critically examine either our or another’s beliefs or values. To that end, we have to ask ourselves….. are they right? Are the Funds newsletters and other communications all just a waste of energy, effort, and time?

Now before I proceed down that proverbial rabbit hole, I want to make it clear to you all two things. First, I utilized the word examine in the prior paragraph. I did not use the word judge. We don’t do that. Secondly, I am perfectly happy to stop writing these newsletters. And you know what? You should be as well.

Why?

First, some people, many people actually, have to learn the hard way. Sadly, a lot of them know that it doesn’t have to be that way, nevertheless, they live their life unnecessarily making things harder than they have to be. Why do they do that? Who knows. We can only conclude that they like doing things in this manner.

More importantly, if that is their process, that’s cool. We can respect that. To each their own and all that jazz.

Secondly, we’re human. Unlike other mammals, human beings have the ability to make choices. We also have a little something called “free will,” and the freedom to learn, to succeed …, to rise to the occasion - or not.

Said differently – The choice to participate, pay attention, read, and understand and take appropriate action was and is always yours. As are the results.

So, here’s the question - if a failure could have been avoided by sharing some information, and someone fails anyway, does the former even matter?

Probably not.

By the way, what is failure anyway? Is it an end? A beginning? A fresh start? A rite of passage? The birth of the “true”? A chance to step up? An opportunity to learn?

Interesting questions, right?

Here’s another and perhaps a better question. Who are we to deprive or shield someone from such experiences and all the lessons that they can teach? It was Kierkegaard that once said:

“The self is only that which it is in the process of becoming.”

Far be it for us to interfere in that!

C’est la vie!