Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Star spangled rodeo!
Hmm. I think my favorite compliment may have been indirect, I overheard someone at my work telling someone else that I was so smart & funny, I don't even know what the context was but a compliment behind my back, not to me, seemed so authentic.
Alright, I'll bite. I got a favor from the mafia once. I had bought a motorcycle and the seller gave me an unsigned title, un-notarized. There was a Curio shop on our street - these ancient men ran it, but never sold a Curio, they did sell cigarettes and ran card games in the back of the shop. I told one what happened and he says "ah, don't worry baby, Sam is a notary! SAM! This young lady needs something notarized. " So they signed the guys name and notarized it.
"What do I owe you?" "Nothing, honey, we do this as a favor for you, yes?"
I'm sure they are long dead now, and the curio shop some hipster bar or something . In their heyday they ran numbers and took protection money but had settled down, but it was funny, their job was sort of - if they could do it for you, and you could pay for it in some way, they would. So of course Sam was their crooked notary. And technically I owe the Mafia a small favor still.
I would not have considered pork and tofu to have an affinity. Tofu here was mostly for vegetarian food. But kimchi jigae and ma po tofu are from different places and both combine pork and tofu, so delicious that now if I get ramen I also get pork belly and tofu. I'm completely converted. Pork and tofu are delicious together.
That doesn't look like a garden center.
Where is my check?
Absolutely true, but feeling good for a higher proportion of your years is much more likely if you act like you want a longer life. Most longevity stuff is geared more towards "healthspan" than lifespan.
Having said that - moderation is what I practice. I don't overeat or drink too much but do not eat a tightly controlled diet either, eat healthy food mostly but not exclusively. Work out but not excessively.
I am, and in a 'right to work" (labor unfriendly) state as well. But have been at the same place for 13 years, and am flexible with them because they are flexible with me. Will stay late if needed, (I leave Wednesdays for overflow and tell my boss that is the day I can work late) but take time for appointments when I need. And I don't answer emails after I go home, am not reachable. I'm not sure why, but they seem to think I am a top performer. As far as I can tell it's not objectively true, but I'm not the one evaluating it.
People at my job also take long lunches to work out if they want. It's a participation sports company.
I don't believe in doing too much, that does no favors for your coworkers or the people who come after. I say good things about my coworkers to their bosses, too. Anytime I can possibly give someone else credit I do.
I work 9-6, go to yoga, eat supper, hang out with my husband awhile, sleep 11-7, have a leisurely morning because my commute is a short bike ride, have 4 weeks of PTO at this point and I USE it. Weekends I have free most weeks. I can come in late or leave early for appointments.
But honestly it works best when one or the other of us are working from home, to take care of some of the household stuff & pets, and we have someone come really clean the house fortnightly, so we don't have to spend weekends doing that. And I like gardening so that's not such a chore.
I like a drink, but every day seems excessive to me. I do 2-3 a week, or sometimes less. Like honestly I think if you drink daily you have a problem.
Come on over to my kitchen!