Here's to Monday

If I had a nickel for every time I was told I am “wise beyond my years,” I would ruin a Chipotle cashier’s day by splashing some serious shrapnel down for my weekly burrito bowl.

The sentiment is without question filled with good intentions. It is also an indication of a particular perspective. That particular perspective is particularly important. In fact, I’d argue that a perspective is one of the single most important variables to consider when doing anything in this world.

“Wise beyond your years” is a cliché typically used by people older than you. It is a compliment by all means, but it probably also provides a little insight into that somewhat more senior individual’s perspective about the conversation that sparked the remark. More often than not, the statement also means “I tend to think people your age are idiots in regards to what we are talking about. You may be an exception.”

The phrase is also used by peers. Sometimes, people will alternatively say something like “you are too old for your age.” I am very difficult to offend. This is merely fact. Simultaneously, there is likely more complimentary ways to call someone mature than the aforementioned terminology. However, it really is just a matter of perspective.

If I can be so bold as to give myself one compliment, it would be that I consider myself to have a pretty good perspective. This is not to say all of my opinions are right or even good, but I go about weighing things in a manner that is healthy. I write this blog to try to share this perspective.

I find the news as tremendous supporting evidence of my perspective. One can waste an awful lot of otherwise potentially productive energy reading the news. This is especially true during campaign season on a campaign year. Want proof of my theory on perspective?

Go read the Washington Post and the Washington Times right now. You don’t even need to read the whole thing. Pick three articles on the homepage of each website. Same day, same time, same city, but completely different articles. Even better, check out the first five reader comments at the bottom of the article. It is completely and utterly deflating for anyone and everyone who has the ability to take a step back and appreciate what’s going on. However, it is all just a matter of perspective.

It would be prudent to people’s health to put a disclaimer on the news the same way you have to put a disclaimer on a pharmaceutical drug. It could go like this:

“By using this product, you may come away having learned something. You are also equally likely to feel miserable, hate complete strangers, lose valuable hours of your day, and somehow feel compelled to continue using this product.”

Seriously, everyone who lost their jobs when big tobacco went under must have gone and picked up jobs at news corporations.  Yet, we’d probably be better off if it was only our lungs being destroyed.

Unfortunately, it is not healthy to be uninformed either. People must be conscious of the world around them. For that... there is the world around them. Look around and enjoy.

I cut down my addiction to news tenfold in the past several years simply by engaging as many different people and places around me as possible. You would be amazed at how much you can learn by going out into the world of local business. You see more than I could ever hope to learn simply by going into town, to the courthouse, to office buildings, to parks, woods, whatever. It’s like the internet minus the computer screen. Just bring some perspective with you.

Each one of my blogs will show local people and businesses that are actually doing things in the world despite how terrible of a place the news depicts it as. You will read of lawyers who are not serpents, accountants who are not trolls, corporate companies who are not secret fraternities of sexist devil worshipers, and gobbles of other decent people around here who are doing neat things and happen to share them on the internet.

Here is to Monday.

Start off with politics:

I spotted a suit with a familiar head of hair knocking on a neighbor’s door across the street on Friday afternoon. I have only met Senator Jim Brochin a handful of times in my life, but somehow managed to immediately recognize him. I didn’t even have Will Farrell’s fictional “Faceback” app from the movie The Other Guys. That in itself deserves some credit.

So does Jim Brochin. Here is some perspective on why.

The Democratic Maryland State Senator was just redistricted by his own party to be placed in a gerrymandered area full of Republicans during one of the most hostile partisan campaign years in American history. Full disclosure, I am a registered Republican with an NRA membership card in my wallet who drives a gas guzzling Ford F-150. I also voted for the guy over his Republican opponent in 2010.

Why?

Any politician in Maryland (one of if not the most Democratic states in the union) who is strategically redistricted somewhere he is politically doomed by his own majority controlling party is doing something right. Brochin has been ruffling the feathers of the Maryland establishment for all the right reasons since he was a junior senator.

Beyond that, He is a consistently refreshing reassurance that there are politicians out there who have our best interests in mind even when they don’t rest on the same side of the ballot. Seeing him start anew in a formerly foreign district on a rainy Friday evening was just another reminder of that.

Not what you may expect:

Net Equity Financial Incorporated is a midsized financial services company out of White Marsh that focuses on reverse mortgages. The first time I heard the phrase “reverse mortgage” the word “scam” was also in the sentence. In part with my work, I have been reading blogs and testimonials to the company for the past several months. They set a shining example of why people should not be so quick to judge.

The company has helped thousands of elderly in Maryland, many of whom in Baltimore County, find financial relief through means that they previously did not realize possible. The relationship the clients have described in letters to agents is nothing short of heart warming.

These are often people who have been hit by the tough times harder than most, and have found relief in a local company who was able to provide them a healthy dose of “It’s ok, we’re here to help.”

The “American Dream” can still be a reality:

Stuart Epstein of Carrollton Bank in Timonium runs a blog about the real estate market. I will admit my partisanship towards Mr. Epstein, as he was my personal mortgage broker when I purchased my first home last year. However, if anything I believe that these statements should hold more weight coming straight out of the horse’s mouth.

The truth is despite the news on the sad state of the real estate market, it is a great time to buy a home. The options available to homebuyers right now are unprecedented, and Epstein has the numbers to prove it. Last year, with the help of Mr. Epstein my fiancé and I moved into a house we never thought was possible to have at our age on our budget.  A year later, we have never struggled to make a mortgage payment and are enjoying a home we can build a family in.

If you don’t believe me, check out his latest blog posts for yourself.

Not what you typically hear about lawyers.

The Law Office of J. Calvin Jenkins published an article called “Counting the Costs of Divorce” a few weeks back and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

“Remember, the most expensive costs have nothing to with money, and everything to do with people, relationships, and how your life changes once you’ve initiated divorce proceedings.”

The article is a compelling account of all of the variables lawyers help deal with during divorce proceedings that don’t have dollar signs attached to them. As the son of two parents who went through a divorce, I can attest the statement above. The article was an excellent testimony to the help lawyers provide to people.

Closing Remarks:

As we quickly approach Memorial Day weekend, another perk of good weather returns to the town of Towson.

“Feet on the Street” returns this week taking place every Friday evening in downtown Towson. It is an outstanding social event that is quickly blossoming into a favorite Towson tradition. The event is filled with food, drinks, and parties that the whole family can enjoy.

“The Towson Chamber of Commerce will be closing Allegheny Avenue between York Road and Washington Avenue between the hours of 6 to 9:30pm. There will be live music, food, and children’s activities, prizes, beer and wine. The COPT building on the corner of Washington and Allegheny is providing $2 parking (you must enter after 5:00pm from Allegheny Ave.). Moon bounces will be provided for the children and there will be a limbo contest and hula-a-hoops for the young and the young at heart.” (TowsonChamber.com)

It is one of the best initiatives the Towson Chamber of Commerce has undertaken in recent years. The event is tremendous for local businesses and the local economy. Be sure to swing by come closing time on Fridays this summer.