8 Things About Me

Bellezza has tagged me with the 8 Things About Me meme. I'm a little slow getting to it, but I will give it a shot. One thing that occurred to me as I pondered the issue is that since I am not anonymous in this venue I can't really post some of the most interesting things about myself. What things? You know, things like my secret and superhuman powers, my prowess as a Lothario, my charm, my consistent good judgement, stuff like that. People who don't know me might think I was bragging, and those who do know me might, well, rupture something laughing. It's hard to stretch the truth if you're as visible as I am. So, since I can't list 8 stupendous and exciting things about myself, I will have to stick to the mundane and pedestrian facts.

Here goes:

1. I'm a Leo. I don't put much store in these things, but I find it curious that some of the characteristics ascribed to Leos do seem to fit, at least the ones that I would like to be identified with. Let's ignore the others, the less flattering ones, shall we?
2. I was born in the Chinese Year of the Rooster. In less politically correct times, roosters were often called 'cocks.' A female companion and I were dining in a Chinese restaurant many years ago, and she asked me in what year I was born. I glanced at my place mat and reported, reading straight from the Chinese Zodiac printed on it, that I was born in the Year of the Cock. She laughed hysterically for so long that it caused a stir among the other patrons in the restaurant. Did I say something funny?
3. I'm a libertarian politically. I discovered very young that I didn't like being told what to do and that I didn't like pickpockets and other thieves. I know better what is good for me and my family than any politician or bureaucrat. I am infinitely more responsible with money than anyone, anywhere, in any government, and I detest having my money stolen and squandered.
4. I am very laissez-faire about what other people do for fun, as long as I don't have to pay for their doctor or hospital bills as a result of their drug or alcohol use, or support their families because they are too irresponsible to do so themselves. I don't use drugs, rarely have a drink, don't smoke, but have no problem with anyone else partaking of these vices. I may think them foolish to do so, but it is really none of my business.
5. I can be very focused on what I want and on reaching goals I set for myself. But I also have a touch of fatalism in my outlook. My lifelong motto, called into service whenever the fit hits the shan, is: "So ist das Leben." Translated from German, it simply means: "That's life." Things happen sometimes that we have little or no control over. In those circumstances we can either cower and whine or shrug it all off and carry on living. I always choose the latter option.
6. I have been an entrepreneur since I was about sixteen years old. At age seventeen, while attending high school, I started a teenage nightclub called Club Unicorn in St. Catharines, Ontario, and have had many businesses since then. I like being able to follow ideas to see where they lead. The experiences I have had were often frustrating, sometimes exciting and profitable, never boring. I don't like being bored. Actually, I'm not sure that I know the feeling.
7. I believe that, barring unforeseen developments, Canada and the United States have seen their best times. Some other areas of the world are more free, have more economic possibilities for people with ideas and drive, and are more fun. Parts of Southeast Asia, East Europe, and Central and South America have many possibilities for young people who want challenges and excitement. My favourite place right now is Panama. If I live long enough, I would like to invest in Argentina, Ecuador, and possibly Uruguay as well. We'll see.
8. I have been at peace with myself for a very long time. Life is never about making other people happy. It is about living the best life you can. I am who I am. I make no effort to be liked. I try always to be fair, honest, reasonable, kind, compassionate, but never because I want to be liked for these things. I do them for their own sake, because they are the right things to do. These things are what we should all try to do in our lives. They make us better individuals. There is no need to define ourselves by whether or not other people like us, or somehow give us their stamp of approval. Some people will never like us, or what we believe, or what we wear, or even how we look. So what? Who cares?

And there we have 8 Things About Me.

Are you still awake?

I won't bother tagging anyone else, but if anyone chooses to take up the meme anyway, let me know I can learn more about you too. After all, after having given you so much information about me, it's only fair, right?