OT: In what ways have you changed over time that you never would have imagined ?

[HazletonLion]

I've embraced tech more than i thought, the fact that i have more music on my I pod than most radio stations had in the 60's, and the comfort of heated seats, GPS, rear defrosters, controls on the steering wheel in my vehicle is the cherry on top.

The turn of pro sports from a team sport to a me sport , makes it less appealing than in the past. Free agency was the pandora's box of sports, and it's starting in college.

 

[LionsandBear]

As a kid I didn't like any of the local teams. From between the ages of 18-21 I slowly became a Philly and Penn State Sports Fan for all sports. Below are my previous favorite teams:

1. Notre Dame
2. Cowboys
3. Islanders
4. Celtics
5. Brewers

WE ARE!!

 

[Waltwam]

QUOTE="LionJim, post: 3885939, member: 3564"]I stopped being an asshole.[/QUOTE]
When?

 

[Marylovesthelions]

LOL

 

[artsandletters]

In what ways have you changed over time that you would have never imagined?

This came to me today because I used to love to read the Sunday newspaper sports section at breakfast. I looked forward to it. A nice breakfast, a cup of coffee and the Sunday sports section. Now, I don't even get a Sunday paper or a newspaper at all even though I easily and still could.

Another would be not caring about the Pittsburgh Pirates. I grew up a diehard-Pirates fan. I despise Nutting so much that if it took the Pirates to go winless for five consective seasons to get him to sell the team, I'd take it.

A third way would be my following the NFL and the Steelers. I used to watch both games on Sundays and the Monday Night game and never miss a Steelers game. Now, I can take it or leave it and don't miss it at all if I didn't watch it.

And lastly, my love of all things Penn State. With how the Board of Trustees threw Joe under the bus so that their shenanigans and shady dealings would go unnoticed, my love for all things Penn State has dissipated.

I would have never imagined any of those things.

I swore I’d play basketball as long as I possibly could. I couldn’t imagine otherwise. I stopped playing when I was about 23.

 

[wilbury]

I used to be a huge fly fisherman. I still have an entire fly tying room in my house with an entire library of fly fishing books and magazines, etc. I tied flies for many people, caught tons of trout, spent every waking moment thinking about fishing, etc.

Now, I fish a couple of times a year and don't miss it at all. I've found other hobbies and past times that are more fulfilling to me in so many ways. Hard to believe that something that once consumed my life is barely a part of it now.

However, when I do decide to go fishing, I can still drop a fly in a shot glass and catch just about anything that swims.

 

[YorkLion]

I used to live and die Penn State football and thought that would never change. I almost had a "hate" for all other teams.

But now, so many other things are far more important and I've come to appreciate good football, no matter who the team is.

 

[Woodpecker]

I swore I’d play basketball as long as I possibly could. I couldn’t imagine otherwise. I stopped playing when I was about 23.

When I was in high school, my friends and I would often participate in pick-up games after school at the playground. When his shift was over at a nearby factory, an older guy would hustle over and be included in the games. We'd marvel at how well he'd play and would wonder if we would still be playing at that advanced age. We finally asked him how old he was and it was ... 23!

 

[mrtailgate]

I used to be good for three times a night. Now my three times a night means going to the bathroom.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

My view of American Society has dramatically changed.

When I was younger I did not understand how people could become Branch Davidians. I can now see how it happens. 2018 was a shocking year for me in this regard.

Wish I could say this observation is limited to a political party, to those without formal education, or to those of a certain economic status.

I think your 'observation' is hiding in plain sight.

 

[Ski]

I used to be good for three times a night. Now my three times a night means going to the bathroom.

I feel you. A good night used to be 6 beers and getting laid, now it is 6 hours sleep and being able to take a dump.....

 

[PSUinMICH]

In what ways have you changed over time that you never would have imagined ?......I got old!

 

[BobPSU92]

I used to live and die Penn State football and thought that would never change. I almost had a "hate" for all other teams.

But now, so many other things are far more important and I've come to appreciate good football, no matter who the team is.

What’s the matter with you?

 

[Nitwit]

Having cancer changed my life dramatically. There isn’t a day that goes by (15 years now) that it hasn’t impacted me. I’ve survived it so far, but I know I won’t ultimately unless something else kills me first.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

I never considered that I'd have to start shaving my ears and the bridge of my nose.

 

[mrtailgate]

Having cancer changed my life dramatically. There isn’t a day that goes by (15 years now) that it hasn’t impacted me. I’ve survived it so far, but I know I won’t ultimately unless something else kills me first.

I bet. Here is to your continued success in the fight against this terrible disease. Hope you are around for a long long time.

 

[OhioLion]

Having cancer changed my life dramatically.

Nit, when talking about my cancer, I tell people: you can discuss someone else's battle or lost battle with cancer all day. But, when your doctor looks you straight in the eye and says it's you that has it. Whole new ballgame. It'll be 11 years March. Stay the fight my friend.
And, I agree, it changes your life tremendously.

To add to the thread, I try to look at things anymore with a "eh, we will deal with it" mentality. Too much time and energy put into worrying about things I cannot control (Joe P's line), worrying about how things are going to play out. I'm 57, retired working a sales job. Things are going as well as I had hoped after 7 months, but I keep on keeping on.
I guess what has been said many times over in Church is what I am starting to realize now - this is a short stay to the End Home.

OL

 

[eidolon21]

I go out walking
I don't do that much talking
These days

 

[bison13]

I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. Have become more liberal as I've gotten older and don't identify with any political party.

No longer practice any religion. Don't have a problem with religion, just prefer my own brand of spirituality.

Im the total opposite. living in Baltimore for 20 years will do that to you

 

[marshall23]

Life has beaten me down. At 40, I thought I had all the answers. I've learned not to be so judgmental. My advice....never say never.

 

[Keyser Soze 16801]

And lastly, my love of all things Penn State. With how the Board of Trustees threw Joe under the bus so that their shenanigans and shady dealings would go unnoticed, my love for all things Penn State has dissipated. .

I thought after Joe retired, I would not care much about football but would remain dedicated to the university at large. As it turns out, football is all I care about at Penn State, for the reasons you mentioned.

PSU would have received a healthy sum after I croak but now it will receive zilch.

 

[cment]

Never thought I would give up a day of hare scrambles and enduros, or fishing, or hunting to stay inside and willingly build LEGO’s with my girls. Heck, my wedding was scheduled around my “hobbies.”

 

[john4psu]

I thought after Joe retired, I would not care much about football but would remain dedicated to the university at large. As it turns out, football is all I care about at Penn State, for the reasons you mentioned.

PSU would have received a healthy sum after I croak but now it will receive zilch.

I had similar plans as well but not any more.

 

[Nitwit]

Nit, when talking about my cancer, I tell people: you can discuss someone else's battle or lost battle with cancer all day. But, when your doctor looks you straight in the eye and says it's you that has it. Whole new ballgame. It'll be 11 years March. Stay the fight my friend.
And, I agree, it changes your life tremendously.

To add to the thread, I try to look at things anymore with a "eh, we will deal with it" mentality. Too much time and energy put into worrying about things I cannot control (Joe P's line), worrying about how things are going to play out. I'm 57, retired working a sales job. Things are going as well as I had hoped after 7 months, but I keep on keeping on.
I guess what has been said many times over in Church is what I am starting to realize now - this is a short stay to the End Home.

OL

Best of luck to you as well. I didn’t intend to go into any personal details here, so I won’t. Buts it’s encouraging to see all the medical advances that are helping patients live longer more productive higher quality lives, and getting closer to a cure in many forms of cancer. If something isn’t working now, there is often something new on the near horizon which will produce a better result. Stay optimistic, and keep up the fight. Live each day to its fullest. We are the lucky ones (in my case in many ways) - it’s those poor children that Thon raises money for that drew the really short straw.

I plan to be using my season tickets again next year and cheering for the good guys. It’s where I belong.

We Are:

 

[massimoManca II]

I have beautiful pendulous breasts now*

 

[odshowtime]

I don't think Simon & Garfunkel and Hall & Oates are totally lame anymore.

 

[LionJim]

I have beautiful pendulous breasts now*

Is this due to your choice of non-dairy coffee creamers?

 

[BobPSU92]

I have beautiful pendulous breasts now*

FLAG.

 

[LionJim]

FLAG.

 

[demlion]

I stopped being an asshole.

Stopping being an asshole is easy. I've done it hundreds of times.

 

[Norm Petersin]

I used to turn down sex, was picky even with my wife. Now, I seldom say no, like this am.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Stopping being an asshole is easy. I've done it hundreds of times.

Good friend of mine has said "I don't want them to think I forgot how to be an asshole." It's another option.

 

[kgilbert78]

I swore I’d play basketball as long as I possibly could. I couldn’t imagine otherwise. I stopped playing when I was about 23.

For me, I wasn't an athlete in HS--chess team was about all it was. But I haven't played competitive chess in almost 40 years--but became an ice hockey player after PSU and an amateur soccer player. Thought I'd always be playing. Then I hit 50--and 50 hit back (hockey dropped off earlier, when I left school--with only one rink in town, then, there were no adult leagues).

 

[psuro]

I have lost a lot of my intensity, passion and drive about work. It hit me in early Feb 2017, when I got laid off from a job I really liked (and a boss I hated). I had put a lot of energy into the job to try to develop the business line, much of it on my own time. But, the company was not doing well, because they grew too fast in other business lines, and could not sustain. Since I did not get along with my boss, I was deemed expendable. I woke up the next morning, and didn't care if I got another job, or what my future was. I just lost interest in it - I figured no matter what I did, I was always a signature away from getting dumped.

I did land another job in about 3 weeks, and it's all worked out, but I still don't have the intensity, passion and drive for work. Now, work is the vehicle to enjoy other things and I don't care about titles, position or any of those other things. And that is something that I was always focused on when I was younger.

 

[LurkerLazarus]

Great thread. It's true: time waits for no one. Too bad it takes so long for us to learn that.

 

[Obliviax]

Lots of great comments in this thread:

• I don't judge anymore....I've come to realize how we all see things through our personal experiences and personalities. I don't blame an addict, like I used to, for example. To me, it was a choice...now I get it. Our experiences are so diverse it is incredible.
• I am more focused on effort than outcome. If someone's heart is in the right place and they try as hard as they can, I am good regardless of the outcome.
• To that end, hard work is its own value. All of our starting points are in a different place. Life is about accomplishment, in whatever that means to you. A downs syndrome kid will get as much personal joy winning the 100m at the special olympics as Usain Bolt will in the real olympics. So do the best you can, improve and measure accomplishment within yourself.

• Like someone else said about the Paterno issue, I no longer believe things will work out for the best. I no longer believe people are, directionally, good. I think people will throw you under a bus in a NY second if it means their survival or good.

• Related to the JoePa issue, I used to respect the media. Today, I would put the media below politicians as they struggle to adjust and remain relevant in the world. My view has move beyond lack of respect to disdain.

• As someone else said, I really don't care what anyone thinks of me other than my wife. I am open to criticism, but after contemplation, if I disagree, I couldn't care less if they hate me.

• I feel like time is money...and as I get older, time is more valuable than money. I've seen people freak out in a hotel room and give up their careers as they realize they are losing valuable time to make money. Its a matter of time for me, but am trying to focus on a higher calling to assure that my kids never have to worry about where their next meal comes from.

• I used to do a lot of volunteer work. I got dismayed when people didn't lift themselves up. I started to see the relationship between help and enablement. Have to be careful to not simply enable someone, which ends up being the opposite of helping.

• As part of all of that, I've pulled in my sphere of trust and influence. I adopted a child as I wanted to help, just, one small part of the world and am working to that end. I can't help kids starving in Darfur and am skeptical anyone advertising they can is being truthful. So I am the charity with my time and efforts, I give money to nobody or nothing outside my sphere.

In the end, my wife an I have argued about this issue: are people inherently good and turn bad, or are they bad and turn good because society requires them to be good. I've always felt people were good but circumstances turned them bad. I am moving more toward my wife's view that people are bad, and are only good because they don't want to suffer the consequences of being bad. I've seen way too many people turn into animals and it has discouraged me greatly.

Lastly, the greatest/kindest person I ever met was stricken down by cancer of the blood vessels (a very rare form of cancer so there has been little research done on it). It is an insidious form of cancer in that it most affects the victim's scalp. My friend was, basically, scalped as part of his early treatment. The cancer and western medicine to treat it were brutal and insidious. I will never understand God's will, in this, and it is hard for me to forgive him (not that he's looking for or needs it). Life isn't fair. Nor, should anyone ever expect life to be fair. My upbringing forbids me to be greedy or mean, which has been a blessing and a curse. So my view is to enjoy the journey, in whatever that means to you, and accept the consequences whatever they may be.

 

[john4psu]

For me, I wasn't an athlete in HS--chess team was about all it was. But I haven't played competitive chess in almost 40 years--but became an ice hockey player after PSU and an amateur soccer player. Thought I'd always be playing. Then I hit 50--and 50 hit back (hockey dropped off earlier, when I left school--with only one rink in town, then, there were no adult leagues).

Hopefully I'll join a senior-citizen softball league in Florida in the future and KG, I play chess against a computer every day. It's addicting and you can play against others as well - chess.com

 

[kgilbert78]

Hopefully I'll join a senior-citizen softball league in Florida in the future and KG, I play chess against a computer every day. It's addicting and you can play against others as well - chess.com

You know, half the fun of chess was the friendships I built. I have other avenues for that now.

Oddly enough, one of the last events I played in was the PanAm Collegiate Championships when they were held at tOSU many, many years ago (1982). Ironically, one of the matches (I was on OSU's "F" team) was vs Penn State. Even odder was the fact that one of my best friends now was playing for OSU "E"--we didn't meet until the next spring playing soccer, and it was years before we realized that we'd played at the same event. Some of the guys from my hometown chess club in Hatboro won in 1977 playing for Penn.

I've gotten into some higher level philatelic activities which along with my church involvement and family do not leave much time for chess. That and my memory is not what it was, which is key to remembering all of the opening options.