Jane Wagner | 12/25/2008 8:00 am

Jane Wagner: What Do I Know for Sure?

In response to: Check your doubts at the door and tell us: What do you know for sure?

I know for sure …

… that thinking I know something for sure can often result in ‘Rude Awakenings.’

… that Hope springs Eternal but Pessimism is even more agile.

… that there is a thin line between inspiration and stupid ideas.

… that to love someone without reservation is the best thing you can do for yourself.

… that materialism leads to clutter.

… that we are all, as Camus said, products of the choices we make.

… that nano technology is the Big Idea for the future.

… that androids do not dream of electric sheep. Androids are insomniacs – but don’t tell Philip Dick.

… that there are too many reality shows.

… that computers will not take over the world, because as Lewis Thomas said, “They are incapable of ambiguity.”

… that a problem left to itself will remain a problem until we interfere.

… that human nature is the main obstacle to our realizing our human potential.

… that trends never last.

… that absurdity has become too commonplace.

… that reality is a packaging concept for crowd control.

… that I love chocolate, but chocolate, even the dark kind is not good for me. Yes, it has many antioxidants but it has many more calories.

… that the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, but the moon is less predictable.

… that we desperately need advancement in battery technology. But lithium is often used in the treatment of bipolar disorders so we may not have enough lithium to go around. It may come down to batteries or brains.

… that my animals expect too much of me.

… that I expect too much of myself.

… that I will never live up to those expectations — I expect.

… that I can’t always depend on myself.

… that perfectionism causes procrastination.

… that self-esteem comes from doing the right thing.

… that when you lose your moral compass, a GPS device won’t get you back on track.

… that happiness is more chemistry than situational.

… that appreciation helps create the chemistry for happiness.

Read more about: Animals, Happiness, Technology, William Blake

116 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I know for sure that I have never and probably could never think as deeply as you, Jane. But oh, I do know for sure what a wonder it would be if I could. I’m going to study your “knows for sure” ideas today.

By MurphyMac on 12/25/2008 11:38 am

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thank you, jane, for giving us your thoughts and care-toons. i know for sure that without you, my world would be a poorer place. give lily my love.

By marylous on 12/25/2008 11:49 am

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I know for sure that maturation does not mean a doddering mind is inevitable. Jane Wagner’s brilliant list: evidence.

By BuhBye on 12/25/2008 12:18 pm

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…whatever someone once was to you, they remain––in some corner of the mind, in some corner of the heart, in defiance of fairness, of reason, of history, of time. …there is a difference between being sure and being right, Bush’s conviction, here and elsewhere, came not from an independent analysis of the facts––of the interests and intentions of nations involved––but from the wellspring of faith. He has confused rhetoric, however uplifting, and reality. …that love is the answer––– to almost everything.

By phyllisDoylePepe on 12/25/2008 12:54 pm

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Well said, Phyllis Doyle Pepe

By MurnahH on 12/27/2008 10:08 pm

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My dear Ms. Jane, I know for sure ——-that I think you are wonderful ——-that I value my friends and family ——-that I appreciate a warm chair to sleep in during a cold snap ——-that you know many more things than I do ——-that you give us lots to think about in our own lives ——-that your animals, like me, are blessed with wonderful owners ——-that I miss you when you don’t make your presence known on WOW Love, Dice the Nice

By DicetheNice on 12/25/2008 1:15 pm

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Dear Jane, I know for sure that you and Edith Ann bring joy to this site. Thank you!

By BrooklynGal1 on 12/25/2008 1:27 pm

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Brooklyn- I’ll toast to that one!

By JosieSullivan on 12/29/2008 3:59 pm

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Hi Jane, Before I start - I just want to wish you and Lily a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us here (myself, Carrie and Daniel)! I think what you wrote is great,very inspiring, and also true! It’s amazing that most of us go through life and only a small fraction pay attention to it. I also had a good laugh because they are so true. My favorite is reality tv shows. When is enough going to be enough? When they start filming “Life as a garbage man” then that would be a little bit much! As far as computers go…I think we are so dependent on them. They are more of an addiction now. Hooked on electronics is reality for us I think. Maybe that should be the next title to a new reality show! LOL “Hooked on electronics!” (spoof on A &E’s Intervention)

By shanasheyloraine on 12/25/2008 1:33 pm

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I am sure that homophobes (and bigots in general who use their religion as an excuse to perpetuate hate/intolerance/fear) are in for a HUGE surprise in the afterlife… I am sure that Karma is REAL and perhaps one of the few most dependable natural laws…which is why I know what I know above. I know for sure, 100%, that my father’s spirit is always protecting me. And most off all, Jane, I know for sure that YOU (not just your words) are truly a GIFT to this otherwise wonky universe. This posting of yours will SURELY be one of the best parts of my Christmas. Some of my favs: “…that a problem left to itself will remain a problem until we interfere.” —Yes. I’d been operating on “if I just ignore it, it will eventually go away” and it has definitely gotten me into some trouble. “… that there are too many reality shows.” —One word: AMEN. … that materialism leads to clutter. —I’ve grown to loathe my materialistic past. And thank goodness for those curbside pick-up charity programs that enable me to slowly donate away all of my overwhelmingly unnecessary crap over time. The goal is to free up space while contributing to helping others. Things are definitely getting a loss less cluttered; it’s amazing how I can ALWAYS find SOMETHING to give. (We have four separate charities that call, one every couple weeks!) “… that absurdity has become too commonplace. —See some of the recent political conversations here on WOW. Or rather…don’t. “… that human nature is the main obstacle to our realizing our human potential.” —Beautiful. How do you DO that? (And when will I learn to stop asking that and just accept that you SURELY possess a mind of brilliance and sensitivity galore.) I do also know for sure that my self-indulgent, self-denying (How can one be both, you ask? I don’t know but I’ve managed it nonetheless!) human nature is what has been holding me back my whole life and I’m finally working on putting a stop to it. Well okay, I AM a Sagittarius - I can only do so much as far as self-indulgence goes. But we’ll see, LOL! How I’ve missed your presence on WOW. I know you’re never gone that long but because of the unique and wonderful touch you add to this site, your absence, although brief, is always sorely felt. Hey, I wonder what Edith Ann knows for sure? Well, maybe I will find out soon enough because I asked for that “My Life, So Far” book for Christmas! Alright, one hour until the family arrives. …is it 2009 yet???

By KryssiK on 12/25/2008 1:59 pm

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This post has been deleted as it violated the Ten Commandments of Posting on our website.

By JimHenley on 12/28/2008 3:04 pm

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1.) The gay stuff applies here; clearly you know nothing of “this lady”. 2.) How did I turn things “dark” when my comment was HOPEFUL to the point of ASSUREDNESS? And anyway, just because gayness is dark to YOU doesn’t make it so. Did you even read Jane’s post? Half the stuff she said had a similar mood consistent with my comments. 3.) Don’t lecture me on Karma. You’re sounding alarmingly like “Frank” who has been banned two or three times because he antagonizes everyone with whom he disagrees by stalking them into topics he wouldn’t ordinarily go and shoving his OPINION down their throats as though they are fact. 4.) If “nobody” cares, then why DO they? Just because YOU don’t care doesn’t give you the right to speak for EVERYONE else. 5.) Please, Frank, I beg you…of all my favorite save havens on WOW, please do not taint the Sandbox. You are welcome to post off-topic replies to me in other threads, or even send me messages on MySpace…I will even give you my email if you’d like. Just…PLEASE keep the Sandbox a happy, welcoming environment. It’s the only section of WOW that isn’t all about heated political argument.

By KryssiK on 12/28/2008 4:14 pm