This summer I'm working with a house painting company. Although it can be, at times, hard work, it is not a bad job overall. Through this experience, I've learned a few lessons from painting that I've realized can apply to life in general. I'll probably learn many more over the summer
Firstly, when painting, unlike on a computer, there is no undo button. If you make a mistake, you're pretty much stuck with it. You can paint over it or quickly wipe it up, but it makes it more difficult and harder for you. Likewise, life has no undo button. If I make a mistake I can try and quickly cover it up or wipe it away, but then it can leave a mess behind.
Don't paint a wall that is falling apart. The other day I was painting a big cement wall with a roller. As I painted the wall pieces of it would come off and fall to the ground. Dust from the wall also came off and stuck in my roller, thus making it much harder to paint. Don't try and make something look pretty before fixing what is really there underneath. It will just be harder to do and will fall apart again.
Lastly, learn to tolerate the smell. This could be applied to a variety of situations...
Also, don't leave a house looking like it's unfinished. Analogically, don't end a fucking post with an ellipsis!
Oh, the grammar god has caught me. I will try not to do it again...
Not grammar, just style. I don't think ending something in an ellipsis is wrong, it's just so wimpy and ambiguous that it bugs me.
I'd say "and I can't be the only one," but that's probably not true. But you don't want to bug me anyway, do you?
I worked for College Pro Painters one summer when I was at school and it SUCKED. We made less than minimum wage and worked in dangerous conditions. I don't mind painting, but I wouldn't do it for a job again.
Other fun painting tips:
Always clean off what you're painting before you paint it. Like with your cement wall, if you have gunk on it, it will get all in the paint and on the brush and make a mess.
Always clean out your brush as soon as you finish, because paint can dry quickly and you don't want to ruin a good brush or roller.
Five minutes now saves an hour of time later. Prep work, shellacing pine knots, tarping, washing out brushes... if you do it right the first time you won't have to fix it later.
Use long brush strokes for a finish coat to make it look nice and even.
I'm sure you know all this already but for some reason I felt like writing it all down. Maybe I should give some roofing tips sometime. :-P But I probably can't relate them to "life" very well.