on living.

Lately, the serenity prayer seems pertinent, relevant and applicable to my life:

“...grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting the hardships as the pathway to peace…”


Now,
I am not an alcoholic.

…



er,

fuck it.
I can discuss the serenity prayer while sipping a glass of wine, right?
Is that sacrilegious?
Morally wrong?
Is Reinhold Neibuhr turning in his grave?
Probably.
I’m going to hell regardless.

Watch me.




I am learning that
There comes a point
When you have to
Pause,
And assess
Your current course of action.
You’ve tried.
You’ve given it your best mothafuckin shot.
And despite your full-hearted efforts,
You’ve failed.
And, you realize
It seems pointless to keep pushing something that obviously isn’t working.
If we’re going to play the dirty blues, we have to be on the same page.
If we’re not, it’s just not happening.
And you have to accept that.
Period.


Does that mean
Raise high the white flags
And surrender?




No.

On the contrary,
You just have to
Alter your approach.
Change your strategy.
Try something completely different.


For example,
Actually taking your own advice:

Now Zach,
You know a watched pot never boils.
Love comes in those moments
When you’re least expecting it to.
So stop expecting,
Stop nesting,
Stop preparing,
Stop holding your breath.

Breathe.

You’ve been blue in the face for months,
It isn’t exactly healthy.



It’s summer.

Breathe.

Distract yourself.
Do what you love to do.
Do what makes you happy,
Do what helps you to keep on keepin’ on.

Life doesn’t have to be sighing violins and cellos,
You don’t have to mourn to minor chords.
You’ve been listening to tragic ballads for far too long,
Change the station.


Rather,
Turn off the radio.

Pick up your guitar,
Strum the E major chord
Again and again.
Faster.
Until you blister.
Sing your heart out,
Scream.
Let your voice crack,
Be ugly.
Lose your breath.
Liberate yourself.
Rock the fuck out.
Dance around
To the simple
Rock & roll
Song.

Make music,
Make art.
But you don’t necessarily have to be productive.

Be thankful for what you have,
Your friends,
Your kindred company,
Enjoy them,
Gossip,
Talk shit,
Porch-sit,
Chain-smoke,
Lounge,
Drink,
Indulge.

Live
Like
There
Is
No
Tomorrow.