Pain

 Traveling for work and decided to catch a movie.  A Real Pain. 

Afterward, my wife asked me if it was good. 

It was.  I also said it was interesting.  She thought that might be akin to saying a blind date you met "had a good personality."  But that wasn't the case.  It truly was both.  

There was sadness mixed with joy.  Playfulness muddled with dread.  Innocence blended with scars. 

I tried to find the meaning and I came away with the feeling that through pain, we feel.  Through pain, we endure.  Through pain, we connect.  Real pain makes you feel alive. 

Recently, I was feeling pain.  It was because a series of seemingly unrelated circumstances that were all thrown into the pot and simmered until it reached a boil.  After some tears, honest talks, and  reconnections, I felt the healing salve. 

Ironically, in an empty theater, I felt connected.  Calm and at peace.  Maybe it was the pain before.  Maybe it was the cocktail before.  Maybe it was the story I was watching.  Maybe...it's just a part of healing. 

Maybe...

I Vote For...

 

We just experienced one of the more controversial elections in our history. I tip my hat to those who voted and had their voice heard. Whether you are blue or red, we move on and turn another chapter. 

Every day, we make a choice.  Every day, we vote. 

I vote for capturing every sunrise and sunset.

I vote for lazy Sunday mornings with breakfast in bed. 

I vote for hugs, kisses, and laughter. 

I vote for warm fires and blankets on cold, winter nights. 

I vote to stay naked after sex. 

I vote to love our children. 

I vote to walk away from people who drain you. 

I vote to travel. 

I vote to dance.  Where ever and whenever. 

I vote to read. 

I vote for being kind. 

I vote for the little things in life. 

I vote to always try and live my life to the fullest. 

I vote for the sport of football. 

We do our duty every four years to elect our leader, and, sometimes it doesn't work out the way we want...but we still vote. 

Just like life.  We don't always succeed, but we still need to choose. We still need to vote. 

Always...until the polls close. 

With a Little Help from My Friends

 

Whether it be the raspy vocals of Joe Cocker or the harmonic tones of The Beatles, the message was clear...

"Getting by with a little help from our friends" is the main ingredient to our stew of life. 

We all get stuck in neutral sometimes.  We all feel the roller coaster inching its way back down.  We all walk through the muddy pool (that's necessary for the Lotus to grow). 

We shouldn't feel like we are flying this mission solo.  We should feel like we are a part of something bigger. Connected. When we lose contact with mission control, the system is broken and malfunctions occur.  

When that happens, go the Bell Telephone route...reach out and touch someone.  

Today. 

PS: If you don't have a friend to reach out to, please make the call.  Counseling works.  

What if the Triple Lindy Was It?

Thornton Melon.  The Rodney Dangerfield character from the movie "Back to School," the 1986 comedy where Melon decides to go back to school to help his son Jason find his way. 

It was filmed in Madison, Wisconsin on the UW Madison campus.  I was a freshman.  They announced open auditions for extras and since I was an aspiring actor at the time, I figured "Why not?" 

The line outside Headliners was blocks long with hundreds of students looking to get a big break. They let 5-7 of us in at a time.  As the hours dragged on, the random thoughts of what might be kept creeping in.  We were not told what roles the extras would play, but that didn't matter.  It was our big shot. 

I entered with 5 others and walked on stage almost like a police lineup as none of us knew what to expect.  The lights were bright and after a few minutes of just standing there, a silhouette of a person yelled out..."Numbers 2, 3, and 5, thank you for your time, we won't be needing you."  I was number 1. 

After all of that, that was that.  And, scene...

Turns out the extra roles they were looking for were "drunken frat guys."  I guess it was somewhat complimentary to hear I didn't look the part. 

But, what if that was one of those key turning points in life?  We never know when a left turn or a right makes all the difference in life's road.  Was it fate?  Is our path pre-ordained or is life a multiple-choice exam where we have several distinct branches depending on our decisions, choices, or cards that are dealt? 

We will never know because of course, it's a hypothetical question.  Still, that being the case, one does wonder.  

I guess I will never know if the Triple Lindy was really it for me...

...even with the additional springboard. 

To Fall

 

Autumn.  

A time of change. A time of transition.  A time where nature blooms one more time before it dies from Winter’s sharp, icy blade. A necessary death that leads to re-birth. 

As leaves fall from the trees and leave them barren, we realize…such is life.  

We have to lose to grow again.  To see the colors, we have to feel the black and white.  To live…a part of us must die. 

But there is a reason for the kaleidoscope of paint before the darkness that is to come.  It’s to appreciate the beauty that is. Such is life.  

Mother Nature realized that death is a part of our seasons.  Such is life. 

We must fall…so that we can learn how to get back up again. 

To Fall. 

Are You a Critic or a Fan?

Reagan. 

Polarizing as a President. 

Almost more polarizing as a movie. 

The gap between the critics and the fans of the movie is significant. The coldest of wars.  

Critics critique the cinematography, the over-dramatization of the music and camera angles, Dennis Quaid's portrayal of Reagan, etc.  Fans are all about it. 

The Rotten Tomatoes critic's score is an abysmal 22%. 

Fans dig it. 4.7 out of 5 stars. 

Do you live your life as a critic or a fan? 

A critic is smart, evaluative, and technical. A fan is subjective, emotional, and appreciative. 

Neither is good or bad.  It just is. 

Some might gravitate towards the idealistic rom-com version of a fan life. Some might gravitate towards the jaded version of a critic. 

70/30 

70% fan. 30% critic.  

The right mix of left and right brain.  The perfect cocktail of idealism and realism.  Enough skepticism to keep you grounded blended with the optimism to let you fly. The perfect concoction...

...to see the bright dawn ahead. 

Green-ishlights

 “We all step in shit from time to time. We hit roadblocks, we fuck up, we get fucked, we get sick, we don’t get what we want, we cross thousands of “could have done better”s and “wish that wouldn’t have happened”s in life. Stepping in shit is inevitable, so let’s either see it as good luck or figure out how to do it less often.”

One of my favorite reads is "Greenlights" by Matthey McConaughey.  It's self-help without the BS.  Old school therapy that was shaken up in a margarita glass. A mixed elixir of Kerouac, Watts, and Chesney. 

It gave me a shot glass size of motivation to send some randomness your way.  Greenishlights if you will (because no one can match the crystal clear green-ness of McConaughey). 

What comes up, will come down.  What goes down, will come up. Ride the painted pony...

We live as the Lotus lives...we need the mud to make the flower. 

Coaching young people in sports is much bigger than what happens on the field or the court. 

You should feel pain when your favorite team loses. 

Passion and perspective are the two most important variables of life. 

Your true soulmate becomes your fantasy, your reality, and your dream. 

Keep believing. 

A well-timed/placed F-bomb is accepted. 

People are hurting.  You never know when a random act can heal. 

The older you get, the more you will prefer Gin over Vodka.  

Black coffee and neat Scotch are good for the soul. 

Take chances. 

You can never say "I love you" too many times. 

Ernest Shackleton is still the best explorer of all time. 

Don't regret your life. Live it. 

PS; I tried to find a contemplative image of myself to match McConaughey.  The best I could do was a shot of me on a run.