Rolling with the times:

What does the saying ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss’ mean to you?

I grew up in a culture where calling someone a rolling stone was an insult.  It meant that the person was incapable of holding down a job for very long.

That was a long, long time ago, when people could easily work for the same company until they retired.  Today, the speed at which companies create and destroy jobs mean that you have no option but to be a rolling stone.

Common sayings have different meanings in different cultures and even across different generations.  Here in America calling someone a rolling stone is becoming a compliment.  It means that you are willing to keep trying different things and different places until you succeed.

Being able to survive as a rolling stone has become a strength, not a flaw.  Like the real Rolling Stones, we can have ongoing success, if we keep on rolling with the times.

I’m James McIntosh at nonsenseatwork dot com

Listen to the radio version of Rolling with the times (10 most recent radio files)

© 2009 James Henry McIntosh