In which our hero says some shit he’s said before somewhere, but bears repeating.
Anything that can go wrong will, at the worst possible moment. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Remember, police and paramedics are just minutes away, but when life is at stake, seconds count.
Y’know why depression keeps you exhausted? Because trying to carry numbness, resentment, anxiety, insecurity, fear, anger, envy, apprehension, sadness, self-loathing, guilt, loneliness, dread, jealousy, frustration, disgust, inadequacy, helplessness, rage, panic, fury, irritability, gloominess, sorrow, grief, annoyance, apathy, despair, melancholy, and judgment all at the same fucking time is too much for anyone. Put that shit down. It weighs too much, and it really wasn’t yours to carry in the first place.
Success, whether it be financial, athletic, psychological, marital, whatever, is entirely dependent upon sustained concerted effort over time. Never quit. Quitting is the absolute best way to guarantee failure. Maybe second-best, actually. Never trying in the first place is probably the best way to ensure you fail. Try. Fail. Learn. Try harder. Succeed. You got this.
Experience is that thing we get immediately after we need it. Get as much experience in as many areas as you can. It’ll set you up for success everywhere and you might have some fun learning shit.
Knowledge is learning bits of information. Wisdom is understanding and applying it. Both require intelligence, but different kinds. Knowledge requires memorizing data. Wisdom requires thought. Knowledge is easy. Wisdom is hard and usually gained from screwing up a lot. You’d think I’d be wiser…
Seriously, just be nice. It ain’t complicated. It’s easy to remember and it makes your life better. Just mind your own business and treat everyone the way you’d want to be treated in the same circumstances. Kindness and trying to understand other folks has never been a waste of my time. Never regretted it once.
Prayer and meditation are two different sides of the same conversation, I’ve discovered. Prayer is us talking to Divinity. Meditation is us listening. It’s amazing how much we miss being said to us until we shut up, tune out the distractions, and pay attention. Listen with your heart, not your ears, and you hear the best stuff.
You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what it is. You can’t know what it is until you’ve talked it out. You can’t talk it out if you’re doing all the talking. Shut up a second. Listen first. Ask some questions. Might be surprised how fast problems get fixed instead of getting worse. Jus’ sayin.’
Y’know what’s better than watching your kids grow? Growing with them. My kids have taught me how to be a better dad. That taught me how to be a better husband. That taught me how to be a better human. Always knew we’d grow older together. Never knew we’d grow up together.
Whether it’s your healing journey, your recovery journey, or just your life journey, a lotta folks aren’t gonna understand parts or even all of it. That’s okay. They don’t have to. It’s not their journey. Unless they’re in the way, try not to worry about it, and keep on keeping on. Seek out good guides and helpful companions will find their way to you.