"from time to time"

I'm a podcast junkie. I listen to 25 hours of podcasts a week. I listen when I'm driving, trying to get to sleep, waiting lines, or whatever else. They are a source of entertainment and education. I really enjoy listening to podcasts. The quote "from time to time" comes from one of my favorites. I also assume that I will post these blogs from time to time. You know how it is. You start something and you want to do it a lot. Then it gets boring or unrewarding, and you stop. So I won't post daily or weekly or monthly, just from time to time, whenever that may be.

I believed I also promised to tell you why I started writing this. There are, of course, many different reasons. First of all, I don't have much to do during the day right now, and I've somehow convinced myself that this is productive and a good use of my time. Also, I took an English class last semester that I absolutely hated, but it did remind me that I think I'm good at putting things into words so they are interesting and well-put. And as far as content goes, I think I have an unusual view of life. I'd definitely like to share it, and I thought you would like to read about it.

Like I've said before, I'm the happiest man in the world. I'll give you an example from last week. Last week, I was a counselor at a church camp. I came specifically to help with the music. I'm a bass player and they needed a bass player, but I also had the responsibilities of a counselor. I talked to the kids, played with them, and kept them in line. On the way there, one of the kids, who I know well, said something about how it really ticks him off when...ok, I really don't remember what it was what ticked him off. I actually think it was something about people driving poorly, which doesn't make sense since the kid is 11. But I told him, "Let me tell you a secret. The less things you let tick you off, the happier you'll be. The less annoyed you let yourself get, the less annoyed you'll be." I don't know where that came from. I've never heard it or thought it before, and certainly not out loud. But I realized it's how I live.

Red lights are annoying. They are really annoying. Have you ever been at a red light that never changed? There was no one coming for miles in either direction, and it would not hurt anyone if that red light would change so you could go. You did have places to be, it's not like you had all day to sit there. I used to fight that every time I sat at a red light. I had to tell myself that it doesn't matter what I think or say or yell, that red light is going to change when it was programmed to. It doesn't care where I have to be and when. It doesn't know that I'm staring it down and I'm ready to go as soon as it changes. It doesn't care that I'm angry with it. It doesn't care about anything. And unless I know how to program the lights at the intersection, there is no possible way to change it. Once I realized that, everything was different. The time was just there. If I was to be late, I would be late. That realization brings incredible freedom.

Once this realization was applied to everything else that makes me mad, I no longer get mad. I am free from anger and frustration. That's helped me become the happiest man in the world. I don't know what else to say about it. That's it. So I'll post again later. I'll tell you something else about who I am or what I think or something. Until next time.