RULE # 8 Harmony

 I spent most of my life arguing about something. Regardless of the situation, at school, at work, at home, among friends, it almost always led to a difference of opinion about something. The result was: I could not let it go. Pam once told me, "You care too much." It hurt my feelings at the time. And, yes I wanted to argue about it, but I did not.

I grew up in a family who argued. My mother was Irish and tough, and my Father was a First Sergeant. We moved often with my Dad's deployments. Most of the arguing was done among ourselves. As a result I became an expert, gold medalist debater. As I got older my father finally quit arguing because we reached the point that he understood the potential consequences would be violent. Violence is really just arguing on a physical scale.

The result of my behavior has led to job changes, divorce and estrangement. I don't feel any remorse. All those other people were just wrong. But recently, Pam has convinced me that the smart thing to do it to stop arguing when things are going 95% your way and just enjoy the ride. It is a enlightened concept. 

So, I am trying not to argue. The jackasses at Ontario Porsche and our HOA will be glad to know I stopped. This does not mean they are right. Or that they won. It means I have better things to do and I won't waste my time on them. This could be a life changing moment or a potential old dog learning new tricks.