Never say never

I find it interesting that so many Axims for Good Living begin with the word NEVER.

• Never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today.
• Never spend money before you have it.
• Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap,
• Never complain and never explain  (Your friends don't need it and your enemies will not belive you anyway.)
• Never trouble trouble, 'til trouble troubles you.

You get the idea.  The first four above were part of the advice that Thomas Jefferson wrote to a younger man as canons for a "practical life."

          The one lesson I can recall from my own student teaching days was this:

Never promise or threaten a punishment or reward

that you can't deliver!

So what do you think of these ideas? 

•  Is it better to put off some things until tomorrow? 
• Does the judicious use of a credit card make spending money you don't have a good idea?

You get the idea.  Maybe Thomas Jefferson was sometimes wrong.

It may be better to leave a bit of wiggle room as you pass along advice.

I try to do that.  Do you?

Oh, yes, one final thought--never say ALWAYS, either.