Aric H. Morrison's Blog
February 20, 2022
FOURTEEN BEERS
#top .av-special-heading.av-kzvez3zn-1cd47c9085e198f779b5548b16a54e22{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-kzvez3zn-1cd47c9085e198f779b5548b16a54e22 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-kzvez3zn-1cd47c9085e198f779b5548b16a54e22 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}FOURTEEN BEERS.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}The coffee in my cup tastes spectacular this morning. I am reclined in a very comfortable seat while my fingers try to keep pace with my flowing thoughts. Today is Sunday, and it is wide open for me, unlike in recent memory. I have no plans. Stay home, take a ride, visit friends, or enjoy a draft at the bar. This day is all mine. What shall I do with myself?
There has been a project I have been working on for almost fourteen years now. To say it has been a labor of love would not do it justice. This one is so much more. It started by my youngest son’s hospital bed and mercifully concluded at 7:38 yesterday morning. It has been hanging over my head each day for what felt like forever. Every second of my free time has been consumed for the last two years to finish this one up and finally place it behind me. This obsession has ruled my free time for twelve to sixteen hours a day.
It evolved from initially being random notes and thoughts typed on my laptop, to a book, to a very long book, and then to its last and final form of three books comprising a trilogy. In aggregate, I have typed over one million words to create this series. As it looks, only half will finally make it to print. For years I have written thoughts, phrases, flashbacks, and random song lyrics on napkins, corners of a piece of paper, flaps of cardboard from a box, and even on the palms of my hands. There are plastic containers of notes, pictures, and physical items, all carefully stored to find new air when the time is right.
I set a goal halfway through 2021 to finally breathe life into my vision by making this new year the one. Reconciling, I was convinced internally that all three versions completing the series would see the light of day within eight months of one another. There has been no turning back already, having appearances lined up for a book tour starting in April.
The sense of pride that becomes the byproduct of completing something like this is indescribable. The example here certainly is more of an outlier for most of us, but the concept of sticking with your objectives and dreams applies to everyone. Sure, we all start and stop various projects all the time; that is a part of the process. It is a healthy one. To do something well requires commitment, dedication, and attention to detail. Is there any point in shorting yourself for the sake of reaching a false timeline to check off the box of completion?
None of this is about the accomplishment itself. The reward is knowing you sacrificed yourself without settling for anything less than what was envisioned from the start. When you reach a personal milestone, the sense of pride of ownership is almost too good to deny oneself. The euphoric feeling acts as the final validation that all is right with the world because you added something spectacular to it.
A day like today is unique because, for the first time in months, I have been able to accept while nodding my head in confidence that I, too, never wavered, cut corners, or failed to stay true to my mission all along. Therefore, it took me fourteen years to arrive at this very moment in time.
The three books are the result; they only act as a rubber stamp to sign off from completion. Whether I sell one or one million copies is irrelevant, my pay came forth this weekend in so many richer ways than money can deliver.
The drive within each of us carries with it a particular flame. One which begins as a spark and slowly dances more powerfully as we trudge along toward the finish line of our goals. Never do the disservice of convincing yourself that potential can not be reached on an endeavor. It may take more effort and more energy than expected initially; this only fuels our triumphant spirit that much more when the end is finally within sight. Keep reaching, keep laboring, keep striving and keep reveling. Trust me on this one from a guy who hasn’t felt this light in over a decade. It is worth it.
There is something great waiting for you in the future in the form of validation. You are already working on achieving it. Consider this blog a reminder. Perhaps you’re next in line for these same rewards. As for me, I will head to that bar and look at the guy in the mirror and raise a glass in his honor. Because after one hundred and sixty-seven months… I can.
Push yourself; you are next.
Cheers,
A.
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FOURTEEN BEERS0 Comments/February 20, 2022https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1920 2560 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2022-02-20 10:33:282022-02-20 10:58:08FOURTEEN BEERS
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Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”The post FOURTEEN BEERS first appeared on Adversity Rockstar.
January 30, 2022
SNOW CHANGE
#top .av-special-heading.av-kz1hro1t-8566a7ea2b8f35eb649f5655704d0470{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-kz1hro1t-8566a7ea2b8f35eb649f5655704d0470 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-kz1hro1t-8566a7ea2b8f35eb649f5655704d0470 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}SNOW CHANGE.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}A friend of mine posted a picture last night, she had received three feet of snow, and it was still falling at a great clip. Today on a Sunday morning, the aftermath of this most recent weather event acts as a reminder we are still under the spell of the season. You can count on it to blow here, be cold, and the days to be short in terms of light. We complain, but we bear it knowing full well that this kind of stuff is looming for us just around the corner every autumn. And right about now, we anticipate spring. So, it goes… four times annually.
I have tactically been quiet here on the blog front for about a month. Every two weeks, I have sent 750 words out there to the ethos and thoroughly enjoyed doing it. More so than my followers and subscribers would ever know. My blogs are not typed lightly as just another every other week’s deliverable; it takes a lot for me to compose them in a meaningful way. I have mentioned doing pauses on several occasions, and I always try to practice what I believe. After successive periods of creating, posting, and writing, it was time for a refresh and a recharge at the end of December.
I have crafted blogs for almost four years, written five books, posted podcasts, coached people nightly, and lived in a confident ADVERSITY ROCKSTAR branded world. I decided last fall to take a break from doing several of those endeavors until the new year. By doing so, my personal goal was to come back with renewed energy and vigor. It is essential to step away; when we do, it’s like an entirely new flood of energy is returned as the deliverable. I used some of the downtimes to travel, research, partner up, and ultimately challenge myself to expand whether I felt like it or not. When it comes to this professional world of mine, I knew the person behind the brand would be able to breathe new life into each of these media outlets of mine after walking away.
It is incredible to think about how typical we are in terms of our hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules. As the seasons come with expectations, most of us perform the same repeated actions each morning, each evening, and before bedtime. We follow a very deliberate cadence of tasks because it is comfortable and familiar. But as we repeat constantly, when do we break these patterns for the sake of reenergizing our creative spirits?
Routine can become the norm, so much so we could take a piece of paper and plan our entire day by the actions we perform before it is even upon us. Where is the room for personal growth? How does it happen? When do we reward ourselves by allocating time for it? Always doing the same thing can be stifling. In a way, we have all become typecast in our own movies. I, too, felt myself drifting in that direction for the very first time.
The point here is not to completely dismiss your familiar and comfortable existence but to enhance it now and then. To step away from those zombie-like tasks, you find yourself doing with regularity without giving them any thought and pause from them. Interject something new and completely out of the norm for yourself. It is tough to view the sky when we always stand at the base of a leafy tree. At some point, climb up it and see the horizon.
As we knowingly confine ourselves to the same limited thought spaces, when does the energy get created with which to shine again? How can we discover more about ourselves when we succumb to predictability over and over again. Isn’t the natural gift of life about the experiences and the memories we forge along the way.
At some point, make that shift. It is about time, and each of us has plenty of it. We don’t use it wisely; it is often only spent to get things done, and then there is another squandered opportunity for personal enrichment.
Use some newly planned opportunities, try different things, research new ideas, educate, explore, connect, challenge, engage, embark, listen, and thrive. Package all that great stuff up and allow it then to flow in all you love to do from there. The choice is yours, another year of the same or one of entirely new energies and a more fulfilled perspective towards those actions you enjoy doing.
You can thank me later for this or come and help me shovel sometime.
Happy 2022 and welcome back!
Cheers…A
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FOURTEEN BEERS0 Comments/February 20, 2022https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1920 2560 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2022-02-20 10:33:282022-02-20 10:58:08FOURTEEN BEERS
SNOW CHANGE0 Comments/January 30, 2022… https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 2560 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2022-01-30 11:54:152022-01-30 12:06:47SNOW CHANGE
HOME ALONE6 Comments/December 18, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 2560 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-12-18 10:46:252021-12-18 12:34:22HOME ALONE
Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”
#top .av-special-heading.av-3mwmw8-aacea89350b953830394ea4ae0a70b48{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-3mwmw8-aacea89350b953830394ea4ae0a70b48 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-3mwmw8-aacea89350b953830394ea4ae0a70b48 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Dusty Pizza.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}It’s been roughly 17 days when we were told to modify our lives. In this time, what an interesting experience it has been. I have to laugh a bit at some of things I have seen, because when facing adversity in any form…you need to keep your mind in the proper state of check. It makes no difference what your facing whether the corona crisis, critical illness, divorce or relocation for example. When dealing with tough stuff, sometimes you reach a point when you simply have to shake your head and smile with incredulity. Is it a way of coping, absolutely !
Relax, take a breath and poke a little fun at where you are today. Of course, I am speaking strictly about the C-Virus here and not any other form of adversity. Most of my blogs tend to be emotionally deep, thoughtful, observational, and reflective. Today is Friday, and I am going to keep things light ! My hope is you will too today and each day during this global challenge.
If I have learned one thing after swimming in deep water for most of life; it is the reality there is still humor to found in everyday situations, regardless. If you choose to wallow in self-pity during adversity and wake each day and reflect on your own perceived misfortune, I can promise you those days will become longer and longer and harder and harder to come back from in terms of positive energy and outlook. At least for today, put your emotions on hold and try to laugh again.
To pass my time this afternoon, I got ready to enjoy a slice of pizza while I watched videos. Without warning, the bubbling hot-melted cheese dripped off the side of it and rested on top of my bare foot forming a mixed blob of grease, cheese, sauce and half a mushroom. It had suddenly created what could only be described as a red-eye circle on the top of my fully exposed foot. I removed the molten cheese before allowing it to burn on through down to the bone, by shaking my ankle and hopping up and down on the other foot while yelping as Kramer had done in Dinky Doughnuts, trying to get the attention of Joe DiMaggio. Today, “good times, never felt so good.”
Point being, there is no shortage of people creating videos to pass the time, writing funny quips, doing silly dances or simply showing a little too much of their extra winter hibernation skin online. Whatever it is in terms of contribution, it can absolutely be found without much effort. There is a veritable treasure trove of content out there right now. Ever thought about being a star yourself? If you sing in the shower, dance in the kitchen, tell horribly unfunny jokes or simply enjoy being creative…now just might be your time to shine so to speak. You know you want to.
Why not take a moment to become your own director or performer and craft a masterpiece ready to be unleashed on the world? If it sucks, trust me one of two things will happen. Either the masses will appreciate your creativity and be happy you shared it, or the masses might laugh at your effort but if so, you have still successfully taken their minds’ off the current situation. Either way, you did what your intent was in terms of entertaining others right? William Hung became a famous name this way. So, in the words of a famous 1989 rapper… “come on fatso, just bust a move”. You know what I mean here…don’t take offense.
My personal favorite is the guy who put a black sock over his hand and pretended to be Pacman eating the cars as they drove by in the background. There was absolutely no sound to the video, just the hand puppet mouth opening and closing as each automobile become “swallowed.” Brilliant. Simple yet so effective. Stir crazy… perhaps a little of that too. But the guy had the correct frame of mind. Sit and frustrate or sit and eat cars.
Yesterday, in between videos I found myself taking apart the casing to my vacuum cleaner for fun. I had always known the motor to have been very strong, so I set my efforts on checking that sucker out, just because. I wanted to see that bad boy in motion. Carefully, I found the plastic seam and pried it open slowly with my screwdriver. Curiously, there were no screws holding it place as I later found out there was not supposed to be any. Needless to tell you, I broke it.
The powerful motor was exposed, I turned it on still wanting to see it in action if only for a few moments. It hummed along like a well-oiled Suzuki. I admired it while vacuuming the room without realizing it had been spewing dust, fuzz, hair, some form of hardened material which may or may not have once been the corner of a Mounds, Hershey or a Zagnut candy bar, and also what I think were the remains from a few dead daddy long legged bugs. All flew back out and onto my carpet from the other side of the fully exposed Electrolux.
I had completely forgotten the replacement bags had not arrived yet from Amazon. There was absolutely no bag in there, and with the casing now completely broken open…you know the rest of this story. What came in came right back out, taking the wide path like pellets spewing out of a sawed off shot gut. Crap was everywhere now, oh the humanity. At least I finally saw the motor in action.
I should have had the camera running these last few days.
In the meantime, I’ll just watch the video of the women with long brown hair pretending to be the back side of a horse being ridden by her husband as they both bounce up and down in unison in their kitchen. Him pretending to be a cowboy, her pretending to be his four-legged mode of transportation. One cannot make this stuff up…clip clop, clip clop indeed.
You just never know when it may be your turn to put on the clown make-up and entertain.
Stay positive, stay safe and stay smiling.
Cheers…A
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FOURTEEN BEERS0 Comments/February 20, 2022https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1920 2560 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2022-02-20 10:33:282022-02-20 10:58:08FOURTEEN BEERS
SNOW CHANGE0 Comments/January 30, 2022… https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 2560 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2022-01-30 11:54:152022-01-30 12:06:47SNOW CHANGE
HOME ALONE6 Comments/December 18, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 2560 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-12-18 10:46:252021-12-18 12:34:22HOME ALONE
Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”
#top .av-special-heading.av-361n1k-5763d9665e4c0bd0299a11a149b99048{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-361n1k-5763d9665e4c0bd0299a11a149b99048 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-361n1k-5763d9665e4c0bd0299a11a149b99048 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Dusty Pizza.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}It’s been roughly 17 days when we were told to modify our lives. In this time, what an interesting experience it has been. I have to laugh a bit at some of things I have seen, because when facing adversity in any form…you need to keep your mind in the proper state of check. It makes no difference what your facing whether the corona crisis, critical illness, divorce or relocation for example. When dealing with tough stuff, sometimes you reach a point when you simply have to shake your head and smile with incredulity. Is it a way of coping, absolutely !
Relax, take a breath and poke a little fun at where you are today. Of course, I am speaking strictly about the C-Virus here and not any other form of adversity. Most of my blogs tend to be emotionally deep, thoughtful, observational, and reflective. Today is Friday, and I am going to keep things light ! My hope is you will too today and each day during this global challenge.
If I have learned one thing after swimming in deep water for most of life; it is the reality there is still humor to found in everyday situations, regardless. If you choose to wallow in self-pity during adversity and wake each day and reflect on your own perceived misfortune, I can promise you those days will become longer and longer and harder and harder to come back from in terms of positive energy and outlook. At least for today, put your emotions on hold and try to laugh again.
To pass my time this afternoon, I got ready to enjoy a slice of pizza while I watched videos. Without warning, the bubbling hot-melted cheese dripped off the side of it and rested on top of my bare foot forming a mixed blob of grease, cheese, sauce and half a mushroom. It had suddenly created what could only be described as a red-eye circle on the top of my fully exposed foot. I removed the molten cheese before allowing it to burn on through down to the bone, by shaking my ankle and hopping up and down on the other foot while yelping as Kramer had done in Dinky Doughnuts, trying to get the attention of Joe DiMaggio. Today, “good times, never felt so good.”
Point being, there is no shortage of people creating videos to pass the time, writing funny quips, doing silly dances or simply showing a little too much of their extra winter hibernation skin online. Whatever it is in terms of contribution, it can absolutely be found without much effort. There is a veritable treasure trove of content out there right now. Ever thought about being a star yourself? If you sing in the shower, dance in the kitchen, tell horribly unfunny jokes or simply enjoy being creative…now just might be your time to shine so to speak. You know you want to.
Why not take a moment to become your own director or performer and craft a masterpiece ready to be unleashed on the world? If it sucks, trust me one of two things will happen. Either the masses will appreciate your creativity and be happy you shared it, or the masses might laugh at your effort but if so, you have still successfully taken their minds’ off the current situation. Either way, you did what your intent was in terms of entertaining others right? William Hung became a famous name this way. So, in the words of a famous 1989 rapper… “come on fatso, just bust a move”. You know what I mean here…don’t take offense.
My personal favorite is the guy who put a black sock over his hand and pretended to be Pacman eating the cars as they drove by in the background. There was absolutely no sound to the video, just the hand puppet mouth opening and closing as each automobile become “swallowed.” Brilliant. Simple yet so effective. Stir crazy… perhaps a little of that too. But the guy had the correct frame of mind. Sit and frustrate or sit and eat cars.
Yesterday, in between videos I found myself taking apart the casing to my vacuum cleaner for fun. I had always known the motor to have been very strong, so I set my efforts on checking that sucker out, just because. I wanted to see that bad boy in motion. Carefully, I found the plastic seam and pried it open slowly with my screwdriver. Curiously, there were no screws holding it place as I later found out there was not supposed to be any. Needless to tell you, I broke it.
The powerful motor was exposed, I turned it on still wanting to see it in action if only for a few moments. It hummed along like a well-oiled Suzuki. I admired it while vacuuming the room without realizing it had been spewing dust, fuzz, hair, some form of hardened material which may or may not have once been the corner of a Mounds, Hershey or a Zagnut candy bar, and also what I think were the remains from a few dead daddy long legged bugs. All flew back out and onto my carpet from the other side of the fully exposed Electrolux.
I had completely forgotten the replacement bags had not arrived yet from Amazon. There was absolutely no bag in there, and with the casing now completely broken open…you know the rest of this story. What came in came right back out, taking the wide path like pellets spewing out of a sawed off shot gut. Crap was everywhere now, oh the humanity. At least I finally saw the motor in action.
I should have had the camera running these last few days.
In the meantime, I’ll just watch the video of the women with long brown hair pretending to be the back side of a horse being ridden by her husband as they both bounce up and down in unison in their kitchen. Him pretending to be a cowboy, her pretending to be his four-legged mode of transportation. One cannot make this stuff up…clip clop, clip clop indeed.
You just never know when it may be your turn to put on the clown make-up and entertain.
Stay positive, stay safe and stay smiling.
Cheers…A
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Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”The post SNOW CHANGE first appeared on Adversity Rockstar.
December 18, 2021
HOME ALONE
#top .av-special-heading.av-1zc7sy-c955edad9e120d9ab09f7f9fd3ce61d9{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-1zc7sy-c955edad9e120d9ab09f7f9fd3ce61d9 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-1zc7sy-c955edad9e120d9ab09f7f9fd3ce61d9 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}HOME ALONE.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}I type this blog sitting next to a certain hospital bed while having flashbacks. The wrinkles upon my cheeks hint at slices of aging since it all began. The environment here shows no glimpses of maturation. Time has stood still even through all these years. The swirling cries of children being stuck by needles, the looks of horror on the faces of newly inducted parents to this unfair world, and even the sudden emptiness within the room next door which on the previous day had grasping life contained therein; are all too familiar. After fifteen years of living as a hospital family, it still at times can kick your ass.
Two collages on the wall can hardly be missed while passing through the threshold of 10 south at Boston Children’s Hospital. There, tender images of small heroes stare through you upon entering. Each face tells a unique story captured behind their innocent eyes. A wall full of children who were dealt the hand of unfairness for no other reason to attribute their fate, than timing. Are they there to inspire, or to remind us? For years I have pondered this question while hurrying down towards the nurse’s station before seeing my boy.
Petrified generations fill the elevators, dining halls, and patient rooms. Forlorn eyes stare ahead while the rest of the body shuffles down the corridor here seemingly with no place to go for answers. A child shrieks in pain three rooms down while I tap these keys. Praying to receive some hint of mercy, heads shake back and forth. The parents are helpless, and they know it. It just isn’t natural. For a dozen years and three, I have witnessed the same. If you possess a soul, you never toughen; these are kids. I have experienced the bleaker side of misfortune since forever here with my child. Nothing has changed, only the names attached to those who continue to fight hard while suffering.
It seems so tragic all over again, for parents to reckon their own child’s fateful situation. A week before the most meaningful evening of the year these thoughts compound. Walking the halls, one can feel the “why us” sense of misfortune permeating. So many broken babies, young children, and youths will call this place home through the holidays and beyond. For some, it could become their last stop, never to return home again. For those parents, only a miracle this season will do. My heart pumps sympathetic blood as I try and reconvince myself there is still hope for these families. I have been there.
For the new downtrodden souls around me needing an overt nudge of how the power of positivity can alter the course of events, the next time you enter through the doors on 10 south, gaze upon that wall to your right as I had done. Consider deeply those tiny faces before you. They are as good a reminder as any; to remain strong.
As a guy who makes a living on stages trying to inspire others, writes blogs sharing his thoughts and reflections, and has spent the last decade crafting books about his journey; the disparate balance of happiness to sadness forces me to pause now and then. All that glitters still is never composed of the gold lining for which we suppose. When you professionally trade in the positivity spaces, periodically you still are forced by chance to keep a proper emotional balance by stumbling just a bit to stay on track. I guess returning was my wake-up.
We have been back a hundred million times since the beginning of it all, but for some reason, this experience feels uniquely unfamiliar in some ways too. I have learned to look at the value of life differently. To try and still possess some positivity amidst this darkness. To better understand the fight, and the will required just to make it through another day here. Maybe in a bigger picture, it is why we were brought back. To appreciate every second afforded by our life-gift had we begun to take it for granted with our son. I have quickly come to reality, no worries there.
In the new year, be mindful of your good fortune, and how precious life is. Never take it for granted, even if it does become a bit prickly at times. One only needs to visit here to be grounded.
For those hopeless parents who plan on wishing to the Boston skyline for a miracle on the evening of December 24, I offer you this:
Look for an image toward the bottom left side of that collage. A certain two-year-old little boy is sitting up while wearing a white collared shirt in the picture. His name is Kaden; he is a fighter. And he is proof that angels DO listen for those kinds of requests here.
Know too, there is still plenty of space left for more photos.
Believe.
Cheers…A
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HOME ALONE6 Comments/December 18, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 2560 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-12-18 10:46:252021-12-18 12:34:22HOME ALONE
Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”The post HOME ALONE first appeared on Adversity Rockstar.
November 26, 2021
Holiday New
#top .av-special-heading.av-kwgkaqns-7943b0757bb8525106503f3ee7f509f8{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-kwgkaqns-7943b0757bb8525106503f3ee7f509f8 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-kwgkaqns-7943b0757bb8525106503f3ee7f509f8 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Holiday New.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}The fire dances high and then low, just off to my right as I type this. The warm breath it casts relaxes tired bones, slowly dissolving muscle pain into the couch. It doesn’t seem possible to consider the time of year, but I have no choice. There are reminders everywhere, right down to the egg nog cartons in the supermarket. Predicably, my head is racing to organize the many actions, chores, and familiar random patterns that make the holiday season unique.
Until the scourge of Covid, I never had to think about breaking any of my traditions; the thought of doing so was unimaginable and borderline criminal. As we all have built over time the many customs which help define happiness during this month, to have them taken away suddenly struck deeply into the memory banks. The most recent of causalities was a trip to the North Pole with my little guy to ride the train, see the holiday lights, sing, dance a little, and watch him attempt to pull on a specific white beard. Once again, not going to happen this year.
Nor is my annual trip to VT to stay at one of my favorite quaint New England lodgings. One by one, many have seemed to have dropped off due to circumstance but not for any other reason. Though I shall miss many experiences which have come to represent happier days, the void will also be filled in other ways. Choosing to pivot and create, rather than frustrate and lament, came to me; there isn’t any reason why we cannot make new traditions.
We spend our entire lives adapting organically to situations that require our doing so, thinking nothing of it. Disruption owns a part of our everyday lives, and we still manage and move on accordingly. Failed expectations are a part of living, so we accept them for what they are. Why cannot we take a page out of the other 11 months playbook and react accordingly during this one?
This cat named Aric with an A will not allow unforeseen change to define his holiday season negatively. Sure, there are more disappointments ahead in terms of what I am used to doing in December. What I have learned through life experience is; future memories don’t give a hoot about timing. They happen both by random chance and specific planning. However, they only exist because, at one point, we took the initiative to try something new.
I decided a week ago to rock this Yule in ways not yet done by me. What this means, I have no earthly idea…yet. It will probably be a combination of things that shall redefine my season positively. Though I have always prided in knowing I help others during the holiday season, this year will continue in a different and more impactful way. Why not try to aid another segment of folks who might be having a tough go of things right about now?
While looking at Xmas lights, perhaps I shall deviate a bit toward a neighborhood not yet experienced and see what new magic it has to offer. Typically, I am a during-the-day holiday shopper; maybe I will live on the edge and wait until the sun goes down to experience the evening vibe at least once, or try buying a few gifts a week before Xmas. Just for the fun of it. This could be the year I find a cherished movie to watch, find a new place to display my tree, update my carol playlist, or see a show.
The music won’t change, but the playlist certainly can. It is a simple formula, but time to use it. Take that which is familiar and add a new twist to it. Do something entirely outside of your predictable comfort zone and plan on taking a holiday swerve. Just because. Pick up the phone and make a new plan with a friend. Just because. Take a drive to nowhere and allow the visuals to access your inner experience. Just because. Watch a new movie, listen to a new song, craft a new plan, decorate for charity, volunteer your time, or share your willingness to engage. Just because.
Put your best foot forward and pursue something new this year. It doesn’t matter after all, what exactly it is you do. What does is the knowledge in whatever you create differently from before; there could be a new tradition birthing in the shadows because of such action. It starts now, so put on some music and sing a holiday song outside of the shower for once.
As for the nog, it is not going to happen this year. Some things won’t ever change.
Just because.
Cheers…A
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HOME ALONE6 Comments/December 18, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 2560 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-12-18 10:46:252021-12-18 12:34:22HOME ALONE
Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”The post Holiday New first appeared on Adversity Rockstar.
October 25, 2021
Weight “Lifting”
#top .av-special-heading.av-252em5-714e3a08951c1606985885d65069e6d0{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-252em5-714e3a08951c1606985885d65069e6d0 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-252em5-714e3a08951c1606985885d65069e6d0 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Weight “Lifting”.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}I love the holidays. Everything about this time of year vibrates intensely, starting as early as the door closing upon having just given out the last piece of candy to miniature scare actors in my neighborhood. Covid placed a damper on most plans last year; looking forward to a more traditional season shall be most welcome. For me, there is something else. A second reason to feel an extra bit of air lifting me beneath my soles. A cool change is in the autumn mist. To say I am lighter now would be an understatement.
For a tick of time, I have wrestled with a burden all alone. Not because I am some self-anointed international man of mystery but rather due to my struggle to eliminate it. It has represented tremendous angst, which has taken a fairly heavy toll on my day-to-day emotional state. My sleep has been negatively impacted, and finding full enjoyment out of everyday observations has been a challenge. Upon waking each morning, an inherent shadow has existed lurking within the reality of my ongoing self-imposed burden.
Incredibly, in less than 24 hours, my entire world shifted once the realization came; I had become my unique problem. Disallowing myself to shift from beneath this cumbersome toll caused a figurative storm cloud to faintly float above me constantly despite the warm sunshine greeting me upon the new dawn. Day in and day out, part of my brain has collected rent from an unwelcome suitor. I suddenly realized less than a week ago; it had been time for an eviction. It took a text message from a business colleague to pry my blinded eyes again.
Each of us carries an unnecessary something which tends to shield our life-glow slightly. Our planned hurdles can be difficult in and of themselves. We are allowing ongoing unhealthy complications to confine our enjoyment of our gift here… simply madness. Regretfully, it took me much too long to realize I had been accepting these types of stressors to dislodge my crooked smile.
In less than ten seconds, if quizzed, you could write your unwelcome house guest on a piece of paper with very little consideration to it. There is something in your head creating undue pressure impacting your right to greater happiness right now. It is in the form of circumstance, an item, idea, relationship, or endeavor which has been squatting within your being for some time. As I had done, you, too, are accepting of it despite its more significant characteristic of being the barrier for immediate enjoyment. Walking around each day with confounded worry upon your mind doesn’t have to be like this. Your mission should also become to kick it the hell out.
By finally permitting myself to lessen what had been weighing me down, I no longer needed to trudge. And with it, the pinning weight which had been slowing me, then commanded renewed positive energies to find a welcome spot, heading into this most special of seasons. There is now a confident, warm light dancing internally again. One I had allowed to become quite dim for an extended time. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy most things. I help people for a living, but I, too, never stop growing.
“One day things will get better. One day I will get to it. One day, I’m going to take care of that. One day, it will be so nice not to have to worry about this.” Phrases we all say, but do we mean them. If not, why do we continue to utter them? There is an entirely unnecessary load hidden deep within each of our skulls. Everyone is carrying one, and many would love nothing more than to alleviate themselves from the stress of lugging this figurative two-ton heavy thing around each day. It feels as though we accept laboring like this as a part of our life deal here on earth. At what point do we say, “enough is enough” and strive to wrangle inner peace again. Do it soon for the sake of timing.
With the holidays fast approaching, find your enjoyment in them again. Make it a point to stop lifting unwanted baggage up over your head each day. You, too, shall be blessed with entirely new energy. Change your story and change your outlook. From there, look in the mirror and repeat after me, “Welcome back; what took you so long to get here.”
No vacancies.
Cheers…A
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Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”The post Weight “Lifting” first appeared on Adversity Rockstar.
October 9, 2021
Wasted Youth
#top .av-special-heading.av-kucpccqu-74b38561f3a3337ed4b811d9c35c8105{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-kucpccqu-74b38561f3a3337ed4b811d9c35c8105 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-kucpccqu-74b38561f3a3337ed4b811d9c35c8105 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Wasted Youth.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}Last week I found myself driving through one of my childhood towns. Impulsively, the car turned onto the road where my oldest memory of being alive on this earth began. I parked in front of the home where I was merely three; surprisingly, it still brought back a flood of memories after all these years. One cannot help but consider how much time has passed in 51 years since then. Helping people for a living justifies the path taken has been the right one. The years of early direction, guidance, and accountability lessons have all been applied well.
My ball of life-clay hasn’t easily molded into form. It has not been fluid or without challenges to get to the enjoyable place where contentment breaths within presently. I do reflect here with certainty; a reverential demeanor towards a wiser generation was always prominent. The way it should be with all upcoming youths.
He was a petite blond boy not much more than 11 years of age, standing there confidently as if he had had decades of built-up mistreatment at home to fuel his anger. The clothes were well-tailored, as there was barely a single spec of dirt on two white sneakers. Both arms were spindly, his stature laughable and worth a headshake. The hair had been purposefully spiked up for effect to influence others, hopefully buying into his tough-guy persona. Such a worldly little human being he must have been – in his mind.
The little potty mouth flowed with a constant rant of nothingness in substantive thought or substance. A lot of wind blew from such a prepubescent virgin tragedy. He stood 42 inches tall if he stood 3 feet. There a hulking, pitiful, little misguided product of negativity rambled on towards others simply because he was encouraged to do so by his mommy dearest standing not 5 feet away from him.
He and I found ourselves within proximity in a somewhat confined space seeking to conduct the same business—my intent: to do what I needed to do and continue on my way. Too much going on in my life to focus on the trivial until his squeaky voice confidently said the following to me: “step aside, G, or next time I’ll put a nine-millimeter cap in your head.”
Daddy’s little man then formed the image of a gun with his tiny sausage fingers, pointed them towards his head, and figurately pulled the trigger while looking me straight in the eyes. A real gem.
This sad, needy, fellow clearly had been failed by his parents in every way. When does violent programming begin, and why has it been allowed to become acceptable? Influence starts at birth, period. Respect is a basic concept, but for some reason, the parental requirement of passing this on is lacking.
It has always been apparent; when we plant compassion in the youth of tomorrow, we strengthen the fruits reaped in public today. There is a direct correlation between how we start, to where we end up later in life. When we accept that learning is gleaned from deviations made along the way, the course of life productivity can still be bountiful.
As a society, have we drifted so far from the very responsibility of teaching decency towards one another from an early age? Do we now indeed have a legion of youthful negative energies looking up at us with indifference towards what is proper and respectful in terms of conduct and life value? I sincerely hope not, but there are most assuredly more than a few growing up right now who adults have failed—the poor children. It is the parental ignorance that I find most disdainful at this moment.
I wonder, after having my head threatened to be blown off by a pint-sized rager, how many more sad stories are lying in wait fueled by pent-up rage. Are mommy and daddy too busy now to be bothered to perform an essential job known to humankind – displaying love?
I hope this current version of tomorrow’s leaders who thought nothing about ending my life will be set straight and become a contributing members of society one day. Children are our future; their path needs to be laced with kindness, empathy, and reinforcement from birth. Thankfully, this troubled little monster is still young enough to be remolded back into proper clay form. Moreover, I forgive, and I feel sad for him. He needs some tenderness in his life; it was owed to him upon his first breath. So many other children are still due this as well.
It is time to pay up.
Cheers… A.
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September 22, 2021
Hearing Ghosts
#top .av-special-heading.av-ktvn5e45-ac41af2f27015114bdda6236e60c73f3{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-ktvn5e45-ac41af2f27015114bdda6236e60c73f3 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-ktvn5e45-ac41af2f27015114bdda6236e60c73f3 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Hearing Ghosts.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}There are days when I walk with purpose, confidence, and a sense of individuality, often finding myself a strong leader. While the next, casually willing to hang back and be more of an observer. There are even some occasions when it barely seems possible to climb out from the front seat of my vehicle. It always comes down to the relationship between anticipation and waiting. Yesterday, my nerves were raging out of control like the hormones within a teen boy.
Soley by prospect, two individuals who needed a third partner for their learning group waved me over to join their team. One of them was older, and the other was much younger than the two of us. As it comes to age-written receipts, there was a small collection of them surrounding a life novice and a much larger bounty circling the aura of a seasoned veteran on this journey. Regardless of birth year, flanking either side of me at any given time was a perfect representation of perspective. (For those who have been following my writing for quite some time now, you know how much I love that word and finding unique ways to apply it to current circumstances).
Matt is the name of the young man with whom I quickly sized up in a refreshingly innocent type of way. He was uneasy in his conversation, understandingly so, as I would estimate to have been almost thirty years his senior. Eventually, Matt came around after viewing me as just another person, one with whom circumstance might have hand-selected to introduce him. He was very young and spoke about his short time here and his aspirations for his future. Fortune was at his disposal to lasso. His thoughts were unique, and his views on his dreams, too, were plentiful. It had been refreshing to listen on as the rainbow in his eyes was vast and still attainable. He reminded me of myself a million years ago, it was nice to get that nudge again to realize how I once considered my own existence.
George was his extreme counterpart. He was a small in stature seasoned man who possessed a renewed sense of energy and zest towards his life gift. He had been given a second chance after receiving the fateful warning of his own expiration in the form of a specific sudden heart attack, more commonly known as the widowmaker. He shared his story with me about this shockingly sudden unforeseen event. He was pretty fortunate to be here, and he knew it. No different to Matt, he was in the throes of living to the fullest a bountiful new set of possibilities. The globe, too, was his oyster now. He was all about enjoying each new sunrise and creating unknown pleasures. I could relate more to George in some ways, but not to the level of his visceral realization of mortality.
Though separated by the ticking of a clock, unified by unfulfilled goals, each man strove to make the most of his unique journey. Two different sets of circumstances yet overlapping in commonality. As I had initially found myself uneasy and nervous, the emotions quickly waned being surrounded by such rich company. A schooling moment had been upon me. It took but a casual glance in either direction to be reminded; youth is meant to be boundless, while wisdom learned through decades too can still provide the fuel for more memories to be designed. It is all about the willingness to keep on appreciating. Our opportunities are ongoing; they are beautiful regardless of where we are in our journey.
Though everyone has a story, it never means the book cannot continue to be written as we get older either. There are second chances. Hope is not time-bound, nor are the endless possibilities to wake up one day with a heartiness to consume more from our days here on this earth. As human beings, we can overconsume when it comes to discovery, happiness, and fulfillment. Never believe otherwise. Particularly on your darkest day. Age is a number possibility can not comprehend.
It’s ironic as time gently whispered in my ear how the complex evolution of life memories constantly flashed back in my mind while listening to the stories told by others. You never know when the fair chance to pause and reflect shall strike. Sometimes with a smile, other times with a tear. However, I guess the person willing to be unexpectedly vulnerable shall always be declared the wiser.
Funny how it took a chance meeting with perfect strangers to see behind closed eyes again just how wonderful this gift truly is.
Tomorrow should always be a great day, “thank you” Matt and George for the reminder.
Cheers…A
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Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
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September 5, 2021
Mirror Mirror
#top .av-special-heading.av-kt7bq7le-3f42f041bdad91f608329f49450050a1{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-kt7bq7le-3f42f041bdad91f608329f49450050a1 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-kt7bq7le-3f42f041bdad91f608329f49450050a1 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Mirror Mirror.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}It is a cool Sunday morning here in the woods this Labor Day weekend. The fire crackles randomly to my right, a stack of clean laundry rests to my left as I ponder this upcoming week. I am unsure why these next few days are on my mind, but they are. In the past, the concept of stepping out of our comfort zones was something already written about in these blogs. You would think I might have reread that one before worrying so much.
In a few days, I am less concerned about placing myself in some unfamiliar space but much more preoccupied with how others perceive me when I do. It should not be this way, but predicably it shall be. Unfortunately, it also is the cause for me to pause and consider just why I should care about how others feel about my endeavors. Many will judge me; it is a certainty. It is what we do as human beings; we find a reason to disagree with the personal choices made by others. Almost as if there is one master grand invisible rule we are all supposed to follow for normalcy. Thankfully for us all, there isn’t. Yet, we act and hold other people to believing there is one.
Instead of just living our lives to the fullest and experiencing all of the wonders it presents to us in terms of sights, feelings, emotions, experiences, and lessons; we waste time missing out on many of these opportunities because we find fault, we pass judgment, and we compare. As we do this, precious energy is expended negatively instead of being at peace in our own spaces. For every action, there is a sacrifice. For every negative energy expended, a positive one has gone to waste. In this case, remarkably, we elect to miss out rather than allow our own identities to breathe and seek new happiness’s found at the end of these exploratory rainbows.
As the Covid death toll continues to wreak havoc on our world, our good fortune to remain on this earth seems to be underscored just a bit more right now. Yet, we waste moments formulating opinions towards others anyway. Opinions formulated which contrast with our own. In the instant of an eyelash, we sum each other up based upon appearances, actions, choices, or lifestyles. People are shunned, trolled, heckled, ghosted, and dismissed instead of embracing our differences and celebrating them continuously.
What an absolute waste of time.
Social media has allowed us to become a judgmental society. One whereby we are afforded the ability to spend countless hours “spying” on the behaviors and actions of others in the comforts of our own secure and not so perfect homes. We shake our heads in disgust, dismay, confusion, and contemplation towards the decisions made by family, friends, acquaintances, and even perfect strangers because they differ from our own convoluted perception of how things are meant to be.
For every hour spent doing so, we bargain with ourselves. Is it more important to consider how much we differ, rather than offering praise towards someone who possesses the desire to simply live their life on the terms they see fit? We get one chance here on this earth. Why waste another moment formulating hidden opinions when there is so much more to enjoy in the short time we are blessed to be here.
Each day we too embark on our own journey knowing fully we are prone to be judged. Simply because we choose to take a different approach to the norm, we open ourselves up for scrutiny instead of recognition. Praise well-deserved from others for being courageous enough to be different from the rest. It is often never given or received, as negativity towards others rules the day with frequency. What a shame we cannot live our own version of what we believe our own gift is supposed to reap for us.
Wouldn’t it be nice to experience a bit more, love a bit more, share a bit more, and celebrate a bit more? Look in the mirror and consider the two versions of yourself staring back. There should only be one reflection. Perhaps it is time to illicit some changes within. Real positive changes, where our views become less important, and our differences take on an entirely new envious juxtaposition. It is never too late to change. The question…who is willing to do so?
For now, I will face the new week with my figurative coat of armor placed carefully in the backseat of my car. Unfortunately, I may need it. In fact, I am sure I will need it.
A brightly colored shirt after Labor Day? Heavens no, what would the people think.
Cheers…A
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Holiday New1 Comment/November 26, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 2160 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-11-26 11:08:102021-11-26 11:30:04Holiday New
Weight “Lifting”2 Comments/October 25, 2021https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... 1440 1920 Aric H. Morrison https://adversityrockstar.com/wp-cont... Aric H. Morrison2021-10-25 16:45:282021-10-25 16:53:58Weight “Lifting”The post Mirror Mirror first appeared on Adversity Rockstar.
August 15, 2021
Driftwood Aging
#top .av-special-heading.av-2vf1sz-a5de7c1f632d3aebfd6bbc75d019b087{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-2vf1sz-a5de7c1f632d3aebfd6bbc75d019b087 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-2vf1sz-a5de7c1f632d3aebfd6bbc75d019b087 .av-subheading{font-size:15px;} Driftwood Aging.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}When I look back on this life (it seems lately I always do), the images which present themselves most prominently all have a unique interwoven trait holding them tightly entwined. Tradition is that invisible glue with which memories are forever bound together. So strong, if temporarily broken, it strengthens our resolve to revisit what it represents upon the next appropriate occasion. Every milestone in our life has this same common thread taking ownership of it.
A recent trip to the ocean with my oldest son forced many fond memories of days gone by with him to resurface for three straight days and evenings. Before we headed out, though, it had already been arranged his younger brother would not be coming with us. Between the feeding tube, diapers, meds, erratic sleep schedule, and everything else which plays a part of any trip for us, this particular weekend was only going to be about Aryn and his dad. Free at last, so to speak.
There was roughly a two-hour ride to get to our destination, which also seemed a wonderful opportunity to discuss our plans for the multi-day adventure. This one had been marked on the calendar for some time, so building anticipation had furthered the excitement. We lined it all up right there in the car before we had even crossed the border into Maine.
Our itinerary was fairly loose in terms of timing but quite rigid concerning actionable events. Prolonged chunks in a candy shop, mini-golf, amusement park rides, fried dough, and of course sparklers, all made for the familiar excursion. The more things change…, the more they stay the same. It would not have been a trip to the ocean had any of these been omitted. What we were going to do at the beach was already a given.
I find it observationally funny how much importance we all place upon performing the same actions over time. It is almost as if we are compelled or programmed to place ourselves into robotic mode at various callings. We know what comes next without even giving it a thought. Doing so breeds contentment and fulfillment. Why have it any other way?
Looking for crabs, smelling the salt air, the excitement of riding waves, splashing for hours alongside the water’s edge, and simply reliving moments made for the best weekend ever. Nothing we did had been a new experience; we scratched, sniffed, and replicated precious images from the past, yet again. And for that, after several magical days, my heart was singing deep within my chest cavity. His was too.
Our own unique traditions add colorful enrichment to our fading black and white storyboards. It doesn’t matter which shadow you refer to; there will always be something beckoning for unfilled attention within these memories. It is that special series of familiar repetitions with which we uniquely identify and have forever taken ownership. Family rituals are just awesome; they allow for growth, reflection, and contemplation. Never allow their sparks to diminish.
More commonly, we all blow out candles, hang streamers, cut down trees, gather around the fire, don masks, embrace shamrocks, color eggs, place items under our pillows, worship weekly, and we continue to showcase acts such as these, over and over. As a society, we are so predictable that we even know exactly what the meal will entail on one fateful afternoon in November. Our lives are uniquely guided by our past actions, only to repeat them. It’s pure magic.
To be able to sit with feet in the sand while watching the waves break before me while listening to Aryn recount how many memories he had while being there; made it all worth it. The weekend surely was as much for me as it had been for him.
There were moments when I saw myself walking by excitedly on the way to the rock pools or to build sandcastles using pieces from a found broken shovel. It all came back instantly. I, too, had been taken to the same spot in the sand along the shore where I had spent summer after summer performing the same tasks because I had to. It didn’t suck hearing the voices of my mother and father whispering to me faintly in the wind as well either.
I gladly ate my only ice cream of the year with Aryn at the same ice cream stand where this all started over a dozen years ago. It was just what we did. But not before he commented, “I wish my brother were with us; he always has so much fun at the ocean.”
There is wisdom in the waves too.
Cheers…A
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August 2, 2021
Torn Pages
#top .av-special-heading.av-1wbjoq-31c18bb7422d59ee0de5e04ae084db1b{padding-bottom:10px;}body .av-special-heading.av-1wbjoq-31c18bb7422d59ee0de5e04ae084db1b .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{font-size:25px;}.av-special-heading.av-1wbjoq-31c18bb7422d59ee0de5e04ae084db1b .av-subheading{font-size:15px;}Torn Pages.flex_column.av-9ydl1-5bed135c660fc909a4ac5400f505905d{border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;}Recently I have spent countless hours reading, re-writing, digesting, and reliving some of the most poignant sections of my story while putting the finishing touches on my next book. There are good times, sad times, horribly unfair occasions, and cherished triumphs. My tale is no different than one lived by any reader who is borrowing my words here. Everyone has tracked courageously as best as possible through this incredible journey known as life.
There are days when the rain seems to pour incessantly, where no matter how much we try to accomplish and push forward, the breeze of trial seems to continuously blow back defiantly. Time almost seems to slow down as the dreaded hours ponderously tick away. We forever recall the days, months, and even years we would rather forget altogether but cannot. Though difficult to understand, they are still a gift. We are alive.
Additionally, there are those rare moments where the entire world seems to be spinning out of our control with no apparent slowdown or relief in sight. Each of us has been there and shall continue to experience it periodically. In fact, lately, the entire globe has been figurately stopped in its’ tracks due to this scourge known as COVID. One thing I have learned over these last two decades is: life is unpredictably imbalanced like that. We get what we get and try our best to persevere, accompanied by an inherent network of supporters.
Regardless of the fight, there is one commonality within all of us during these reflections; our innate ability to seek and offer one another some form of human contact along the way. We ultimately become the most impactful leaders reciprocally, whereby we frequently change the hats worn upon our heads in an instant to be there when called upon emotionally. We stand tall confidently for each other through all the unknown ordeals. To volunteer encouragement, as friends and family falter. Covid certainly was a test, and I would bet you also can say the names instantly when asked who you leaned upon.
Confidently, we can cite those who were around us who offered unconditional support during the valleys. You know the names of these folks in an instant. They were there; it is what they do. There are no conditions; empathy and compassion rule the day. Represented in the faces of those who stand tall with us during our lowest periods. It too seems as though the same people are always there for us in a pinch regardless. As dependable as the air outside to breathe, they are only a phone call or text message away.
As I have looked back personally upon my own situation, I associate the names of trauma in my life with many of the faces of those who stood by me as I endured. But somehow, time passes, the calendar pages rip away quicker and quicker, and many of these same people have become less prominent in my life due to circumstances. They aren’t less important, but we move away, seek new employment, or travel in different circles over time. One thing is always for certain; if needed they would be there again for me at the drop of a hat, as I too would be there for them. It is just what we do, lay in wait.
The real question on my mind is this; aren’t each of us due to call upon others for absolutely no reason but to catch up while offering sincere and meaningful direct eye contact “thanks.” Perhaps it may be nice as the world seems to be opening a bit more, to find an opportunity to share thoughts again under different, warm, and positive circumstances.
Why is it we celebrate accomplishments so much less, and dwell on our obstacles so much more? If you are like me, I rarely share those kinds of uplifting days purposefully with my support network. But I know I should. It is almost a counterbalance to offset their gestures. We absolutely need to include our support folks in the fun too as we revel!
Maybe we all need to catch up and discuss all the great stuff going on respectively in each other’s lives. To also acknowledge completely out of the blue the kind efforts shown by those who were there for us. No agenda, no preplanned conversation. To display ourselves living our best lives now and then and allowing them to see us as we thrive, for a change. Pretty simple, but we rarely make it a point to do things like this. I’m thinking about calling some folks later today and inviting them to the party. Life is good, they deserve to know it.
No hats are required.
Cheers…A
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