Guilt is good--and now go rule the world

"Welcome to your life

There's no turning back

Even while we sleep

We will find you...."

You can interpret this classic song, "Everybody wants to rule the world" any way you want.

I'm not sure I know what the writers had it mind, but I know what it means to me....and if not the favorite song of my life, one of the them....

Today I discovered that guilt is good: it keeps you honest, gives you feedback. I have an aging dog, Ally, a Shetland, who can't hear--but has learned to sign. No, not the signs used by deaf people: dog signs, ones she understands. Ally is alone, spends most of the day outside inside our fence but is able to watch people--and dogs--go by our house. She barks at certain people and dogs and not others, not sure if barking is "hello" or "I don't like you, keep going!" But Ally seems to like, most of all, to go on walks...and today I didn't take her...and at around 5PM (the sun goes down here at about 4:30!!!), she was following me around the house watching whether I put on certain clothes, might be getting ready to take her on a walk...we never went, I was too busy being obsessive about something else...and I felt guilty, not guilty enough to take her, but guilty enough to post this, admit I let her down...let me down.

Guilt is good. It reminds us of our responsibilities, and our commitments...and how important we can be to others, even animals. It tells us we matter. I suppose there is stupid guilt, that's related to obligations we make up--or are related to fairy tales. I'm not talking about that.

You and I know the difference. And if each of us honored our commitments--well, then that's how we can rule the world.

"I can't stand this indecision

Married with a lack of vision

Everybody wants to rule the world

All for freedom and for pleasure

Nothing ever last forever

Everybody wants to rule the world"

Come ride with me...

and enjoy the Tears for Fears video that follows.

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World (live)

What makes me happy

This question, this blog, this adventure I'm on are all a work-in-progress. I want to spend a few posts/weeks/maybe months exploring the happiness question through the blog and then maybe the answers will lead me to great adventures to enrich my life, and vicariously yours.

So, what makes me happy?

--planning stuff I'm going to do...No.

--talking about stuff I want to do...No.

--talking about stuff I've already done...No.

--watching others do stuff I wish I could do...Maybe a little.

but I know I'm happiest when I'm doing...doing.

And although talking about stuff I've done doesn't necessarily make me happy, I understand it's my blogger responsibility to report back.

But doing is when I'm happy.

So, come ride with me.

Work out!

I am a huge fan of Tim Ferriss, the man, and his books: The Four Hour Work Week and his latest publication, The Four Hour Body. If you just read the titles you'll think you know what Tim is saying, and you'll be wrong. Tim is not about shortcuts for shortcuts sake--he's about doing the right things without wasting time--productivity with integrity. I think that Tim still works hard--and seems to be having a wonderful time. Not a bad place to be....

In his recent book, he talks about a concept that I run across often, bears serious consideration, and for me, genuine adoption: if you want to improve your inner game, improve your outer game...or as Richard Branson once said, "'How do you become more productive?--work out.'" Because I'm not currently 'career committed' (I'm unemployed), I think it was my son who told me, "Dad, every day for you should be a bootcamp--work out!"

Again from Tim, "Controlling your body puts you in life's driver's seat."

From me, becoming a hero to yourself can be as simple as hiking a big hill, losing 20 unnecessary pounds or going to a great gym 4X a week.

And the final word from Tim: "Take the next step: uncap a pen and take an inventory of all the things in the physical realm that you've resigned yourself to being poor at. Now ask: if I couldn't fail, what would I want to be exceptional at? Circle those alternate realities. The list circles back at you and gives you a blueprint for not just a new body, but an entirely new life.

It's never too late to reinvent yourself." (http://www.fourhourbody.com/)

Come ride with me.

So a man walks into a bar...

I'm back at bartending school this morning retaking portions of the class and practicing for the exam in two weeks.

It's certainly coincidental that tonite Oregon and their no huddle/speed offense will play for the BCS National Championship--because the type of bartending I'm learning is all no huddle: 100+ recipies by memory--GO! This took me completely by surprise when I first started school back in September, and I've had to resort to all kinds of trickery to memorize Rusty Nails, Cosmos and Lynchburg Lemonades...and a lot of practice making drinks over and over.

"But I don't want to make drinks fast, I want to make them well," I told my instructor.

"Here you learn how to make drinks quickly and by memory because that's what people expect--and when we certify you, that's what your employer knows you can do."

When I pass my exam--and there's no limit to how many times I can take it--I will be 'licensed' by the State of Washington (this is required) and 'certified' by the Seattle Bartending College (http://www.seattlebartendingcollege.com/)

One day I want to create my own signature drink--either a coffee or mojito type of drink, but not until I can tell the difference between a Rob Roy and a Manhattan, between dry, dirty and perfect

...and he says to the bartender, come ride with me.

Dire Straits: So far away

So Far Away

with thanks to the genius of one of the greatest rock bands of all-time, Dire Straits

"I'm tired of being in love and being all alone when you're so far away from me...

I'm tired of making out to the telephone...

you're so far away from me, so far I just can't see..."

So, as I return to the blog, to share my experiences...

let's start here:

whatever your journey, don't waste time, don't hold back...

tell that waitress you don't know that you think she is beautiful...or that guy you met at a meeting that he's interesting...do what you love, go where you've always wanted to go, cut your hair or grow it long--the way you always wanted--learn to play the guitar, dance the salsa, make a mojito....don't be so far away from what you love...

"I get so tired when I have to explain that you are so far away from me...you've been in the sun and I've been in the rain, and you're so far away from me...so far away from me that I just can't see..."

I am starting to see. Starting to understand this reinvention stuff.

so, enjoy Dire Straits

and then come ride with me.