The Old Coot is gunna! Probably. Maybe. Probably not.

“I’m gunna!” When you hear someone say this, you need to remind yourself, it’s probably a lie. When you or I say it, it’s most likely a lie too. It’s one of the most repeated lies in human history. 

We spray it around like those seeding machines the DOT uses to plant grass along the side of a newly completed stretch of roadway. The, “I’m gunna!” is the fertilizer component, pure horse manure. “I’m gunna start working out! I’m gunna read more and watch less TV. I’m gunna lose that gut”! Gunna, Gunna, Gunna. When you hear it come out of your mouth you should slap yourself “up-side” the head. I do this so often my head is lopsided, but it has helped me cut down on the “I’m gunnas.”

It’s hard to replace, “I’m gunna” with, “I am.” I AM on a diet. I AM working out three times a week. I AM reading more. But, that simple word exchange will change your life. Unfortunately, “gunna” is used too often by most of us. And, it comes home to roost later in life, when we replace it with, “I shudda.” I shudda taken courses at night school. I shudda learned to play the guitar. I shudda eaten healthier. I shudda. I shudda. I shudda. A world of regret, caused by a lifetime of, “I’m gunnas.”

We all do this, the “I’m gunna” thing, but it’s just a bad habit. If we recognize it for what it is, even just every once in a while, we can change our life and change future “I shuddas” into “I did.” It’s never too late. Even old coots like me have time to eliminate future “I shuddas.” I’ve been thinking of writing about this gunna thing for a year. I kept saying to myself, “I’m gunna write about how bad gunna, is.” That last slap “up-side” my head finally got my attention. Here it is! One less “I shudda” in my life.  

Comments? Complaints? Send to – mlessler7@gmail.com.