On Ultimatum's in Life...

I will never claim to be a purveyor of life's wisdom. But every once in awhile I will stumble across a lesson in life that demands to be told. However just like alcohol: you might not be old enough to use it, and if you are you must do so with disgression!

Once upon a time in my life, I was deeply frustrated over a woman. To put matters simply and accurately in this relationship there would come about many a situation where I would be damned if I did or damned if I did not. The topic would change, from when I would call, to when we would see eachother, to how I might spend my time that day: but all of these items had a common evil thread: they were all ultimatums.

By chance in college I met a wise man who pointed out the following out to me. He was a large white man from Wisconson. He was very tall, perhaps 6' 6", very large at 260 lbs., and he had a rough beard but a friendly look about him. People used to call him "The Yeti." He had a funny sort of hapharzard Buddhist way of looking at life that only someone as serious as me could recognize. He asked me about my problems one day, sensitive as he was, listened, spoke and taught me thus:

When someone in life presents you in each hand with a single key that leads to two pathways; the first that opens a door that runs straight off a cliff into failure and the second that opens a door to a path that runs through a valley, over a hill, over a mountain and off a cliff to the same end, do this: take both keys in one hand, thrown them over your shoulder, and turn around.

It was armed with this new Zen, this sort of Falling Down simplify-your-life-you-retard-because-you-are-only-here-once-as-far-as-I-know advice that made me decide to break-off my relationship and start anew. Today, the sun has never showen as bright nor has the air been so crisp.

Ul`ti*ma"tum (?), n.; pl. E. Ultimatums (#), L. Ultimata (#). [NL. See Ultimate.]

A final proposition, concession, or condition; especially, the final propositions, conditions, or terms, offered by either of the parties in a diplomatic negotiation; the most favorable terms a negotiator can offer, the rejection of which usually puts an end to the hesitation.

<-- a final demand, the rejection of which may lead to a resort to force or other compelling action by the party presenting the ultimatum. -->

 

© Webster 1913.