I can barely see to capture this moment for ya’ll.

#videos #weather #trafficnews

Audio (MP3): 20180503 - Karma doesn't torture us

While I was sitting with my nicotine withdrawal earlier, I was saying my morning prayers, asking god to take my nicotine addiction away, take all the pain and discomfort. And then I started to get crabby because these withdrawals have been going on for well over a month. Fucking Greg.

And then I kind of scolded myself, “God’s got nothing to do with this.”

My nicotine withdrawal is the consequence of decades of smoking. My smoking. No amount of praying is going to take that physical pain away. Sure, the cosmos can give us everything we need to make it through our struggles but we still have to deal with any bullshit that we’ve created.

And then I think, “haven’t I suffered with this enough?”

And then I think again, “no, karma is fair and balanced.”

Karma doesn’t torture us. We do.

Sometimes I think that I struggle more than I should, though. I can and do make life harder than it needs to be. I’m just not good at it. I know how to make crazy. Because it’s my go to.

And then I was thinking of what Scott Peck wrote in the late 70s:

Life is difficult.

Nothing else stood out in The Road Less Traveled more to me than that. Not that I’m on the same cosmic level as him but I think it would’ve been more appropriate to say that “life is balanced.” He may have wrote that, too, but I don’t remember.

Sure, life is hard and full of struggles but it’s absolutely magnificent, too.

Just living can be frustrating, disappointing, aggravating but it’s also fulfilling, magical, and surreally spectacular.

So what to do when I’m annoyed with myself and the mess I’ve made? When there’s nothing left for me to do on my end? I stop thinking about me and my horrors and look around to see what else is going on. What’s good happening in the cosmos?

Because even when the sky is gray and the air rainy, the world is beautifully overflowing with sweet Jesus goodness. It’s got flowers and everything.

#photos #flowers #advancedsoul #diariespodcast

Peeps, here’s your opening-skies-with-your-broken-keys Wednesday jam.

I don’t think I’ve heard a song by Zedd that I didn’t like. And Matthew Koma’s lyrics/vocals are the best. Listen to him sing Zedd’s Clarity with only an acoustic guitar.

#musicvideos #zedd

Not long ago I was having lunch with some friends at The Evergreen Pub & Grill in St. Charles. We were sitting in the patio area, more or less enjoying the Spring weather.

Out on the street two beer trucks passed each other, headed in opposite directions. They both honked their horn in what sounded like a friendly wave or fist bump.

That’s sharing a common goal. Not selling more beer, but making the world a better place.

I can always be friendly. We’re all playing on the same team.

#goteam #advancedsoul

Speaking of #email 📬🇺🇸

Attention email marketers: this is the only kind unsolicited email I like.

📬 🌮 #email #tacomadre

Peeps, here’s a bee waving “hi” to a pink flower. I suspect that they’re both as happy as I am that it’s the first of May.

#photos 🐝 #bees 🌸 #flowers

Audio (MP3): 20180430 - The light is green for both sides

This scene is my truck. I’m barreling north on Randall Road and need to turn left at the next intersection. There’s a handful of cars that are also barreling south toward the intersection. Because everybody’s got to get to work.

The light is green for both sides. Timing will be close but the southbound traffic has the downhill advantage. I add a little acceleration to the equation. A little horsepower to even the odds.

The light turns yellow so I slow down and then stop at the red light.

I’m always grateful when the cosmos saves me from myself. 😊

#cosmos #trafficnews #randallroad #diariespodcast

#photos #flowers

Because who doesn’t love a good tentacle? 🐙🧡

#photos #tentacles #homeimprovement