What We Permit
I found myself reflecting on the concept “What you permit, you promote” this week. A nagging issue in my professional life feels like it is coming to a head. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t…I’m mulling it over. But there are lots of common examples in life where this concept plays out.
When there are employees who habitually arrive late to work without consequence, other employees take the same liberty. Then you have a real problem. College roommate issues, like who does the dishes, personal hygiene, having guests in a shared space, etc. all can stack up to create some real tension between people.
Moral and ethical things - like someone who reneges on a bet, or tells a racist joke. Every once in a while, maybe you let such things slide. But if it repeats and you continue to allow it…now you’re complicit with the conduct.
Experience teaches us this hard lesson of permit/promote, and informs our future behavior. While I have always had dogs, and loved them, they have never been as well-behaved as I would have liked. To hopefully promote different standards with our new dog Rosie, we have enrolled her in a three-week training program that includes three days of training for Lori and I. Rosie will be our best-behaved pet ever, and I will be a better dog owner.
Our federal government, designed by it’s founders to have three co-equal branches of government, have recently failed to play their historical role as a check and balance on each other. I wonder how this might affect voting trends in next year’s mid-term elections.
It’s hard to think that every decision we make is setting a precedent that we must honor forever. Sometimes it feels this way. At my age, I rarely have a problem telling someone when I am making a one-time exception, and sticking to my guns if they try to repeat the occurrence. That’s basically all we can do when someone takes liberties that bother us.
Experience is the best teacher. Make accommodations sometimes, and see how they play out. You will regret some of them! That’s part of the journey. That’s how you figure out your non-negotiables.
Sunday Supper
This Cola-Braised Beef w/ Chili-Lime Onions is good. So is this Spicy Honey Chicken w/ Broccoli. Oh, so is this Skillet Salmon w/ Quinoa, Feta and Arugula. Get cooking.
Sunday Music
This Sunday morning, enjoy this set from Maxwell at the NPR Tiny Desk. Sierra Hull recently performed there as well. And here is a full 2-hour performance by Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Warren Haynes from earlier this month. Enjoy!
If you know anyone who might like this essay, please share it with them. Have a great week ahead! You can do anything you set your mind to. Let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,