I Can't

@porwest It is used often as an excuse. Myself, due to severe medical issues, there are some "I can't" that are legit. Usually, I add a bit more like, "nope. This body and that mountain won't get along."

@noni1959 lol.

There are limits, of course, in certain circumstances. But mostly, "I can't" is nothing more than an easy copout. But it certainly depends.

@porwest Boy, that last sentence was a mouthful! lol My dad used to have a saying that I never understood as a kid, but totally get now: "Can't never could do anything."

That reminds me of an exercise that was presented to me once when I said I'd try. They handed me a pen, and I was told, "Try to drop it." I let it go, and it hit the floor. "You didn't try to drop it, because if you did, it would still be in your hand." I am not sure it was a revelation, but it made sense. As for saying "I can't," I am pretty sure we all do. It's all about context to me. Can we not, really? Sure, there are some things that just won't happen. A mute man won't ever become lead singer in a band. A man with no legs will never play pro-basketball. But for the most part, I think most people can do a lot of things if they only put in the effort to at least give it a shot. So many people are unwilling to even do that. I'm like you. I have a "can do" attitude. It's a strange saying, but it holds true, "Before I knew something, I knew nothing." But of course, you can't know what you don't know if you don't go out and find out what you need to know so you know...

@moffittjc I can see where that would be confusing as a kid, but now makes perfect sense. lol

Thank you, as always.

Exactly. Trying is better than canting, if the latter is even a word. lol

An "end all be all" is simply a way of saying, "There is no substitute or alternative. This is the only way." In this particular context, saying, "I can't" is the main purpose and reason for not doing something. But you're right, sometimes fear is a main driver of this. But it's still a copout no matter how you look at it. Many people use the term incorrectly as well. For example, someone might say, "I can't cook." Actually someone can LEARN to cook, so the correct statement is, "I don't cook." But fear of messing up a dish or burning down the kitchen might stop them from trying. lol The bottom line is that most people CAN at least TRY to do things. Granted, this has to be within reason of course. A mute man can't become a lead singer of a band or a man with no legs can't play pro-basketball. But that's beyond the main point of this post, of course. Generally speaking, most people who say, "I can't," actually CAN, they just don't want to, and the easy way out is to simply deny the possibility, and thus... Say, "I can't."

@porwest Thank you for the clarification. I say anyone can cook but not everyone can cook well. Some people should never go near a kitchen. I’ll admit I say “I can’t” enough times….

@lovebuglena We all do. But for some people, it's all they know to say.

I invest. It's made me a lot of money. I only invested in people who can. It works out. All I can do is feel sorry for the ones who can't, because I know they can, and there's so much money left on the table, I think. Kinda sorta. Not only that, but so many problems in the world could be solved simply by changing the words.

@Ineeddentures I agree. Some people are simply a lost cause and that's that. It is what it is.

@porwest trust me Some people just can't!?

Definitely there's a difference between a physical limitation and simply not wanting to try to do something. There are realistic goals and unrealistic ones as well. Will a guy with Coke bottle glasses ever become an airline pilot? Probably not. But you're right. I have been the same. I have an amazing capacity to learn and adapt and overcome things. I don't always succeed. Ultimately, I can't always "can," but the point is, I at least try, depending on what it is, and whether or not I want it.

That's just a long winded way of saying, "I can," or, "I am willing." It's still much better than saying, "I can't."