So you say

Into every life some rain must fall.
Every cloud has a silver lining.

Out of sight, out of mind.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Proverbs, bromides, sayings, clichés, platitudes. I’m not really sure what they’re called, but I like them. Sometimes they’re helpful and at times they’re calming. Almost all the time, for me, they make me think a little about life. Or, if for no other reason, than to try and figure out what a stitch in time is and what nine refers to.

A stitch in time saves nine.
You snooze, you lose.

What I don’t know can’t hurt me.
Forewarned is forearmed.

The point here, assuming I’m even making a point, is that each one of these little life lessons has an opposite and they’re both true. This happens, that happens. Yin and yang, opposite but connected.

Birds of a feather flock together.
Opposites attract.

You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Clothes make the person.

But more than being opposites, the point for me is that carried beyond that they can prove that for every negative thought there’s a positive thought. Negative/positive, opposite/connected. So we don’t have to get stuck dwelling on the negative if we let ourselves realize the positive is there as well.

They’re such a jerk.
They’re struggling and suffering like everyone.

I knew I would fail to finish that project.
I tried my best, and I’ll try again.

Why are the lines at the grocery store so darn long?
Standing in line gives me a great opportunity to slow down, meditate, people watch.

Maybe if we can outthink our inherent negativity bias, then we’ll all be happier and more loving people. I’m not a Pollyanna, but you know what? If I were, that might not be so bad.

One more for the road . . .

Make hay while the sun shines
Haste makes waste

Enjoy the day!