In a Funk

OK… It’s one of those days when I have nothing going on that inspires me to write. It’s not that my mind is a blank or that I couldn’t just wax on…again…about the majesty of the natural world… or how cool it is that I can spend an entire Wednesday morning scribbling notions on my laptop, but I may as well just re-publish an old blog then, right? 

No…don’t wanna do that. 

Here’s the story. 

I woke up early this morning and couldn’t fall back to sleep. Stuff on my mind, you know? Nothing major…no life or death, no impending disaster. Just small nuisance stuff. Annoying more than anything. But it put me in a funk. My first thought was, ‘Oh shit…that’s still going on isn’t it? I didn’t dream it away…it’s still here.’ Bummer. 

Now, some days, I just want to get up and get busy at fixing whatever the problem is but other days…say like today…there is a part of me that just seems to want to wallow in the funk…to pout and be moody and sullen…to nurse the jerk and spread petty, pity vibes, like a contagion, all around me. 

A perfect recipe for a shitty day. 

Maybe it’s my old age or maybe it’s some tiny thread of enlightenment but somewhere in the middle of my second coffee another voice pipes up through the murk…a saner, quieter voice that says, ‘Really? After all this time you’re still ok with blowing a potentially great day?…look, the sun’s shining, it’s summer for Christ’s sake…you live by a lake…smarten up!’ 

Ok. Now that makes sense and I am a sensible guy and I know I will soon heed my better angel and smarten up. But what is it, I wonder, that creates the unwelcome, unwanted, unfriendly funkiness upon waking? 

But, of course, I know the answer to that too. I went to bed with bullshit on my mind. I fell asleep upset and woke up in exactly the same state… except with the added dimension of disappointment that naturally comes with waking up miserable. 

Good. 

So the moral of the story is, ‘Always go to sleep on a happy thought.’ 

Awww. Would that it were so simple. 

Getting rid of trouble-in-mind before nodding off is indeed one of life's most perplexing conundrums. It’s like trying to convince yourself that you believe in something you know you don’t believe in (I’m a millionaire, I’m a millionaire, I’m a millionaire). 

I think the Buddhist monks were on to something when they began meditating on a skull…yes, a human skull. What could be a more definitive reminder of the truth of earthly existence? I’ve also heard that some enlightened folks like to envision themselves in their coffin…same thing. 

Ultimately, Nothing Matters! 

All is Temporary! 

Ashes to Ashes 

Funk to Funky 

(We know Major Tom’s a junky) 

Hmmm…. 

Well, whatever… 

I feel fine. 

You folks are great listeners. 

Thanks

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