“Patience is a virtue.” “The early bird catches the worm.” “Good things come to those who wait.” “Carpe Diem.”

Because I want to incorporate every little bit of information into the puzzle of human interaction, I hear advice and think it must be important. Or, it could be important, like the piece of scrap wood that might be just what you need in ten years on a project you can’t possibly know about. If it could be important, why not hold on to it? After all, I don’t want to be discarded. Maybe I relate to the scraps, hoping to find relevance. If I make myself presentable enough, it could increase my chances of being kept – just in case I have value.

What happens when you get conflicting advice? So many axioms are complete opposites. Of course, there is “truth in paradox,” but when and how to apply each of these axioms is the issue. When it seems like the rules constantly change, but you can’t keep up, bad things will happen. They do happen, and you are left wondering which piece of advice was the one that caused all the others to unravel. Of course, you will actually end up with too much time when that happens.

“Let reason be your guide.” “Follow your heart.” Perhaps to “never give up” is “beating a dead horse.”