Yeah Right!

There are challenges in life. And then there are CHALLENGES! In the area of personal growth, I find some of them to be quite absurd. Not to mention, just outright impossible.

Some time ago, the Denton Yogi reminded me of the most ridiculous, impossible suggestion in the history of ever. I hope to never read the book. But evidently, she had found it necessary to pick up the fine work of Don Miguel Ruiz entitled: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. I had never heard of the book or its author. And I have no idea what the other three agreements are. But I do know that Agreement #2 gives me tired-head and actually makes me a little insane.

This Ruiz character actually has the audacity to opine in his second agreement, "Don't take anything personally."

Seemingly, I just got writer's block. I don't know what to say. I cannot find the words. And for those that know me, these instances are rare. I have written about all kinds of challenges and ideas. I have opinions (and sometimes even real experiences) galore about all my rantings and ravings in prior posts through the years.

Sadly, I have experiences and an opinion about this second agreement. And the hopeless reality about this is I am convinced that I just cannot do it. And I'm fairly certain that I'm not the Lone Ranger in this regard.

Most recently, I was reminded of my inability to let things go after making the very poor decision of bantering with famed reporter, Ashleigh Banfield on Twitter. I saw Ashleigh on Live PD (the greatest train wreck on TV) and asked why she wasn't wearing her glasses. She actually responded and said that she had undergone serious eye surgery and occasionally wore them during her one year recovery. I simply responded that was too bad because she always looked good in her glasses and that her various pair of glasses always seemed to be her bit (trademark).

Big mistake! Ashleigh never responded. And I truly think she wasn't offended. But some snowfl.....I mean some other Twitter user chewed me up one side and down the other for suggesting that Banfield's wearing of glasses was a bit. Even attacking me as she had noticed in my profile pic that I wore glasses!

I have stopped arguing with idiots. This girl's stupidity was even more than I could imagine. So, I didn't explain to her why I was right and she was ignorant. I simply apologized and assured her that I meant no disrespect to Banfield.

But it bugged me. The fact that I'm writing about it obviously means I haven't forgotten about it.

I wrote years back of living our lives based on outrage. Maybe, this post is a regurgitation of that.

But I know we all fall into this dilemma from time to time. At least I do. I take things personally. From the leaders of our world to the very people in my house, I take things personally. And it bugs me. It robs me of my serenity. It makes me the curmudgeon that so many of you think I am.

A few years ago, I was corresponding with a man in California who, for the most part, has become my sinsei.

I truly don't recall complaining about anything or anyone. But evidently, I was. He responded with one simple idea.

"Kevin, nothing is personal. They are not doing it to you. They are just doing what they do and you happen to be in the blast radius."

On occasion, I am able to remember that and go on about my day. But more times than not, I am only able to respond, "Yeah Right."

Present and Accounted For

The blame can be placed solely and indubitably at the feet of Stainless. It was just a few hours ago, that as we stood in his driveway, he asked me when was the last time I had any fun? Now mind you, I have been on a couple of pretty cool vacations, been to the UK a couple of times for speaking engagements, seen a few concerts and sporting events.....and for some stupid reason I answered, "Back when I was hitting that ridiculous blog on a regular basis."

True talk. That silly response was the best I could muster. And I have absolutely no idea why it came out of my mouth. But it did. And here I sit. Back in my therapy chair. So comfortable. And so, so cheap!

Trust me when I say that a thousand or two topics have come to mind over the last couple of years. But all of them just exhaust me. And if I dared to bring up even one of them, then I would have to listen to your incessant rebuttals. And quite frankly, you exhaust me even more! As I get older, I truly am getting more and more okay with your right to be wrong and I, for the most part, have given up on trying to make you see it my way.....the right way.

Consequently, instead of addressing societal ills, of which there are thousands. I am going back to where this little experiment all began and I am going to discuss my very most, favoritest topic.....ME!

I find it amazing how so many of my favorite quotes are found on T-shirts. I'll never forget the first time I saw a shirt that read "I don't even like the people I like." Within 24 hours, I had Shoe's wife press me one out and to this day, that shirt remains one of my most valued possessions. Goodwrench, however, is currently sporting a shirt that I must one day own. My jealousy is incalculable. I offered him $100 cash the first time I saw it. On a couple of instances, I have been frozen with envy as Goodwrench has walked into the room with a shirt that says "JUST PRETEND I'M NOT HERE. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING."

Sometimes, this strikes me as funny/sad. Other times it strikes me as sad/funny. Then there are times, when I'm all alone in my head (a very dangerous neighborhood), that the truth behind this silly sentiment, on a silly t-shirt, just completely breaks my heart.

And I start to list all the places in my daily walk, that I am so tempted to just pretend I'm not here.

I will suggest a few of these places. And I will do so at the risk of retribution. But this ridiculous quote, on this ridiculous shirt has caused me to question:

Do I pretend I'm not here on my job? Have I pretended I'm not here in a house of Worship? Have I not been here when out to dinner with friends? Have I pretended not to be here sitting on the couch watching TV with my wife? Have I really not been here at a choir concert of one of my children? Have I not been here while visiting a friend in the hospital? Have I pretended not to be here at the funeral of a loved one?

It's very, very plain to see that this list could go on and on and on and on.  I cannot describe the extent to which this truth disturbs me.

For those of you keeping score from a few years ago, I am still meditating every day. Coming up on 1,400 days in a row.  The ongoing mantra almost every day from my little Tibetan Monk is to just be present..... right here..... right now.  This simple thought might be the biggest challenge I face in my daily life.

But Goodwrench's shirt has challenged in a way that I've not been challenged in quite some time. And I really, truly want to make a change. And in ALL the instances mentioned above and in all the other hundreds of situations I find myself in, I'm going to strive, to the best of my ability, to be PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR.

Lesson From The Last Jedi

There are recliners now in movie theaters! Who knew? Obviously, I didn't. I'm not sure of the exact year that I last stepped foot into a movie theater, but I can assure you that it was prior to everyone getting their own recliner! It was really nice. I may go again this weekend.

We were all together this year for Christmas. Big Tuck had some time off and was around the house. And the children (Tuck's word, not mine. Funny though!) were in town from Knoxville. Other than me having to sabotage one afternoon with some hardline views, we had a really nice visit. I made my amends and learned my lesson well.

On Saturday evening, we watched whatever Star Wars episode precedes Disney's current release in order to refresh our memories, before attending The Last Jedi on Sunday. Call me crazy. But I'm pretty sure it was just a "do over" of the Original Star Wars I saw as a kid, which I think was Episode IV. Kind of gives me ice cream head trying to keep them straight.

Anyway.....I will offer no spoilers or ruin your movie watching experience (did I mention the recliners?) But, I need to address a couple of lines from this flick that have been consuming my thoughts since we left the comfy confines of those recliners.

I don't even remember the girl's character name. I do remember she was talking to Finn. I do recall she was on the good guys' team (The Resistance) and I do know they were speaking of the incalculable odds they were facing against the bad guys (The First Order).

That's when this little pearl slipped out:

"That's how we're gonna win. Not fighting what we hate. Saving what we love."

Talk about thunderbolt and lightning! My very first thought was "Crap! I'm gonna have to dust off Cheaper Than Therapy and write about this." My second thought was "Crap! I'm gonna have to try and implement this mindset into my pathetic attempts to survive in this crazy, fallen world!"

I am NOT going to enumerate the dozens and dozens of examples of "fighting what we hate" that we are bombarded with each and every day. One of my sincerest goals with this little experiment is to try and encourage my tens of readers to think. So, you can come up with your own.

But the whole notion of "saving what we love" is raises big questions and even bigger challenges. I can promise you it is WAY, WAY harder than "fighting what we hate." The task is frustrating. It is difficult. And above all, it is going to be simply exhausting! But I believe it to be worth it. And I believe the fruit from this effort to be so much more rewarding!

Now, don't you all wish (as do I) that we had gone into see Pitch Perfect 3?

Happy New Year!