We learn from history that we do not learn from history

or so goes my favorite paraphrase of Bernard Shaw’s1 astute summation of life in a nutshell.

Some people have charm. The rest of us get through life as best we can.

Some lives are a long first impression attempt, while others do some good.

Aside from each person's package of challenges, life can be a satisfying hum of contentment peppered with joys when based on clear thinking, but misery is the fallout when selfishness or info shortages prevail.

Whether at personal or international levels, the same blunders blast what might have been, if ignorance and self-centeredness had not had their way.

But even if one's life seems in shambles now, don't despair, just repair. Build from here on out--whether relationships, career, business, or helping humanity.

Instead of learning from others’ mistakes, we earthlings seem to insist on making our own, as if there were anything original about them. Whether at personal or international levels, the same mistakes are made over and over. Why waste life spinning wheels or digging out of pits previously posted with warning signs in others' lives? Instead of spinning, why not go forward? Instead of climbing out of pits, why not avoid them, make progress, and do some good? Why not learn from each others' mistakes? We all make a few, but life is too short to fit them all in, though some give it a good try, as mentioned.

The intentionally rebellious may think they are being "cool" or “different" or unique. While good ideas outside of the proverbial boxes can benefit, more often the self-imagined non-conformists are simply conforming to variations on ancient lack-of-thought themes. The rarity is the one avoiding most of humanity’s blunders. The unique one is he or she who does not follow the crowd's repetition of the same errors over and over.


1. Bernard Shaw quote in Esar, Evan 20,000 Quips and Quotes, 385.

Other sites by the author include http://happymountainman.com, http://aroadsscholar.blogspot.com, and http://anecdotes2antidotes.blogspot.com.