How Much Does "The Thought Count?"

We often hear and many use the old cliche, "it's the thought that counts."  Let's think about that for just a moment.  Usually, that statement is made when the outcome has proven unfruitful.  "It's the thought that counts," seems akin to "good intentions."  Since we know the destination of the road paved with good intentions it seems good intentions have already been given their bad rap.  How is that "it's the thought that counts" continues to be acceptable?  It's a ready made excuse.

I've been thinking about this all week and just how little "the thought" does count.  Granted thoughts can turn into words and even actions, but those are usually just the bad ones . . . Good thoughts without action don't count.  For example, imagine how excited my social media friends would be if I mentioned I was thinking about sending a quart of fresh blackberries to the first 25 people that liked one of my posts.  Clearly, without follow through, the thought would not count.  And I'm sorry about not being able to share blackberries by mail . . .

As I surveyed my garden and kitchen this week, the thought occurred to me, how little "just thinking" about canning actually accomplishes.  Granted we have to have a plan to attain a goal, but in the grand scheme of things, thinking the plan through is the easy part.  Carrying out the plan is the work and what actually counts.  It's as if "it's the thought that counts" has removed personal responsibility, because most of our society simply buys what we want without much planning.  I'm not in the other 1% by default of The One Percent.  Nor am in the 98% because I'm protesting financial wealth.  I like the independence and freedom away from the programming of the financial divisions.

On my bar now sits about five dozen jars of various fruits and vegetables for consumption this winter and next year.  If I'd thought about scalding tomatoes or shucking corn, rather than actually accomplishing that, the tomatoes would probably be rotten, and the corn would be turning to whiskey on the ear.  Certainly, neither would be in jars to be a part of a meal down the road.  If I'd thought about picking blackberries, and hoped the thought would count, I'd not have any blackberries canned.

As a matter of fact, I think this One Percent and 98% actually disproves, the old saying "it's the thought that counts."  If the thought counted, the protest would have shifted the wealth . . .