Happy #AllOrNothingDay

Apparently today is the day to take a gamble, to step outside of your comfort zone, and as in No Limit Texas Hold 'em, if you go all in you can either win it all or lose it all.

But people say "You can't have it all", so if your choices are all or nothing, but you can't have it all then does that mean that you can only have nothing? First of all, who says you can't have it all and why can't you? There's plenty of almost everything to go around so let's assume that it is possible to have it all. But now let's look at all or nothing. Who says you can have all or nothing? It's one of many false dichotomies that we have to deal with in our society because most of society has a scarcity attitude. Instead of saying either/or, why can't we say both/and. In some cases, like this one, it's not really possible since these are opposites but either all or nothing are not the only possible choices...how about some?

For better or for worse? How about for mediocre? Hot or cold? How about warm? Rich or poor? How about middle class? Fast or slow? How about half-fast? (Pun intended). Those things are opposites, so if you have both at the same time it's more of a compromise. But how about some other false dichotomies like "I'd rather be happy than rich"? Why can't you be both happy and rich? And why are the people saying it neither rich nor happy? Apparently being broke doesn't make you happy either. Or what about Ginger or Mary Ann? To find out more about this false dichotomy check out this blog post from last October.

Some of the best things in life are made of the both/and idea. How about peanut butter and jelly? Sure, you could have either peanut butter or jelly but life is so much better when you have both peanut butter and jelly. And how about bacon and eggs? I can just see sitting down for breakfast and being told that you can have either bacon or eggs, because you can't have it all.

So, remember that it's possible to have it all. And some is better than none. But celebrate this day in the spirit it was intended and go out and give it your best shot.

Interesting days

Today - All or Nothing Day, One Voice Day and Aunt and Uncle Day 

Tomorrow - Take Your Houseplant For A Walk Day, Walk On Stilts Day and Scotch Whisky Day

Next Tuesday - Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 26 - Women's Equality Day and Dog Day