When Today Ends
Odie’s body heat and presence brings me back to the death zone. I check out Jimi, Bob, and Flipper. I notice Gandhi sitting on the wooden porch, spinning yarn on a spool. There is more going on, like a movie ready for film to roll. Just weird, but I love it. I think Ray Charles is playing a piano on wheels, rolling down the street singing “Seven Spanish Angels.” My version of Heaven’s trumpets of the angels? Could be. What would your Heaven look like? (I double-dog dare ya to paint that picture.) I am here to inspire ideas and motivate you for the rest of your life, starting now. Believe it.
I am realizing as these memories, philosophies, and thoughts flow out of me, they may seem very disjointed. To me, the stories are all tied together in concept, and in the spirit of telling stories, they should be told this way, although my delivery may lose you at times. I am still dealing with my new surroundings, and how all of this, everything, does and does not make sense to me right now.
The stoicism of breaking through obstacles, enjoying the process, and gaining results came from my family unit. My calmness in chaos and my interest in challenges made my pursuit of happiness worth the price of any sacrifices. No regrets. Of course, I struggled to keep nerves subdued in tense times, but the training needed to not overreact or panic when stress hits the red zone is what life was all about for me.
I chose to remain positive and found solutions to overcome difficulties, whether I produced the problem or a shit bomb was handed to me. It was a choice to feel freedom during the darker days. I steadied my tensions to react appropriately when thrown a few lemons. I liked lemons and lemonade, an example of how I perceived that expression positively simply due to how I chose to interpret it. Struggle is essential for growth; strong wind makes tree branches stronger, but too much can break them off. Anything can be fatal.
I remained empowered; death didn’t scare me. I liked information and transformation. Changes like moving houses, a depressed work environment, and failed relationships were difficult, and it made the new place, new job, or new companion more rewarding. Drive your own bus, that’s how I drove mine. Notice which friends wanna ride on your bus and who enjoys the way you navigate your life. That’s when you have the ability to transform others.
Choice is yours. Perception is your choice, positive or negative. Mistakes are the learnings in life to support mental growth and tenacity. Nerves and fears rear their heads, we are human, it happens. I’m here to just tell you to stay your path, drive your bus playing the music you love. Laughter and tears create an atmosphere. Others can join you, or don’t invite them. I say bus because driving solo in a small car is silly and not a recommended way to travel through life — alone. Create your Heavenland now, formulate your story to leave behind, before you get here. Once you reach my level in the silver lining of these clouds, it’s too late.
WHAT’S YOUR HEAVENLAND?
CH.6 What Matters (excerpt from HEAVENLAND, a novel)
