Onward Thru the Fog... Same words, Different Meanings...

Many moon’s ago in Austin, a guy started a little business that I understand is still there down by the UT Campus.  Now don’t get the wrong idea,  I didn’t frequent that shop of Tie Dyed shirts, Incense holders, Bright Posters and Indian Rugs (smile) but I did enjoy their motto which was on the back bumper of just about every Volkswagen bus (old hippy van)  in Central Texas, including mine.  Their motto goes “Onward thru the fog”….

 Many, many, oh so, many years later, I have come to the conclusion that their motto does not stand for any one specific meaning but can be used in various translations and situations.   Here are just a few that I can think of.  

 #1 The Teen Years
 

These years can be some of the most terrifying years for anyone.  The “coming of age”, no matter how much a young adult thinks their ready, most are surprised over the amount of exposure that “real life” is being thrown at them.   One reason for this is the “commercial marketing” that is targeted at them from a very early age.  In most cases, if unsupervised, this marketing shows all the “GREAT” things that can happen through these years but not  the trials and tribulations that also will be found along their path of discovery.

If, we as parents, allow these well conceived and deceiving ploys to be absorbed unchecked, then we are allowing a very big thick fog bank to build in front of our young ones.. Even though they may say they don’t need your help, they do.  If nothing else quietly walk just off to the side of them letting them know your there if needed.  Don’t lose them in the fog.  Sometimes they are too embarrassed to call out for help when they realize they need you and then its so hard find them again. 

 #2 Marriages/Relationships

So many times I have seen couples that blindly rush into a relationship to the point that they become
 lost in the foggy dreamland of young love.   Then, when things get tight or they start learning each other’s little “intricacies” they stumble and fall. I’m not saying a couple cannot make a commitment to each other in a short time frame  my wife and I knew each other less than six months prior to getting married 30 years ago.  

Both individuals must understand that this decision needs to be well thought out, sitting down together and talking truthfully and not trying to “sell themselves” to each other.  By honestly sharing, goals, expectations, and fears of a relationship prior to commitment they can help lift the fog together.

#3.  Education

When I was growing up, completing a high school education was a big thing and allowed one to step into the workforce with sufficient knowledge.   If you were able to continue into college you were considered very lucky.  Now, college is almost a must, but just important is a good working knowledge of how to live, work and survive in the Electronic Age.

 The kids of today are so absorbed into this new world it’s scary.  It’s scary because their knowledge of this new electronic society is so much better than ours.  Don’t believe?  Hand a 9 year old child a laptop, or today's Smart Phone, stand back and watch.

 Unfortunately,  we baby boomers had already made it into the job market before the world of electronics  had made a working need of  the  Internet, iPods, IPads , Email,  Theirmail and Knowitallmail  part of the  “skills  needed”  job description.  What has happened is we “elders” have had to “catch up” by teaching ourselves this new world of the electronic workplace. 

The Electronic Employer, yes, it’s out there and if you don’t have or are not willing to learn these skills, your worth as an employee is foggy and it will only get thicker farther down you career road.  

 #4   Life’s Pitfalls  

 Sometime while going down one’s life path, there come pitfalls.  These are events, trials and tribulations that each of us sooner or later have to face.  There are some that can be solved, resolved or cured.  Its at these times that one must gather together what they have learned from living so far and use those talents and abilities to hurdle over these obstacles and continue on life's race.  Through confidence, faith, proper actions but probably most importantly, having  someone who supports you every step of the way can a person fulfil their destiny.    

 I  myself, am lucky…. lucky because I have a very special person that shows me her love and understanding and how much she cares.  My wife Sylvia has always been right beside me and I am calmed by her loyalty, bravery and willingness to do whatever is needed to help me make it through those time.  If not for her I know I would have fallen into one of these pits of self-destruction and not be able to pull myself out.

                                             
 Onward thru the Fog…

Four words that could have never been meant to be just a funny little Ha... Ha…  But I believe that they were put together as a sign, a reassurance that no matter what, if a person is willing to accept that their life goes along an uncertain path. That they or you can feel more at ease understanding that what life has in store for you can be  meet head on with a higher level of confidence and understanding of what is most important in your life.


Johnny
10/25/2015