S9EP2: The First Week of the Rest of My LIfe

Hey, gang! Welcome to my life – where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems. I’m Freedom and I’ll be your host, coming at you from within the depths of Geistopia.

DOC: Velcum To My Life ees a prochect, un experiment in Life unt ART. A living storyboard, if you will. Its premise ees zat life ees experiential, unt zat you can, unt do, experience ze life you choose. It ees based on Ze Veel of Life unt Ze ARTs for Ze New Millennium as life building tools. Ja, it’s true!

WALT: Welcome to my Life is an I T.V. Studios/Geist…House Players Production, in association with the Center for Creative Inspirationalism. JustUs Productions, the parent company, would like to give a ‘Shout-Out’ to the following for their ongoing, and oft-times unknowing, inspiration and support:

Princess Cuddlebug

Princess Sunshine

Company

The Shaman

The Pillar

F’n Bob

The Entire Putt-Putt-Putter Clan

The Warden

FaeriePrincess

Professor Siggy Chong

Sparky Wentz-eclaus

The VanMan and General Ralph Glossop, and Craze (may they R.I.P.)

The Messengers of The Galactic Federation

Looch

The Bassett Hound

Bert-On

The Baker of the Cornbread

Andy Pandy

The Mudder

Zason

St. Diane & You (3)

Brother John & Sister Jen

Spooky Queen

Boom-Boom Snuffbox

The Nameless One

Tim-Bo

The Cousins

The Rox

PDT

Sir Richard Slouch

The Wix-ians

The Socialite

The Village of Idiots

Piz-Niffer

Dancing Queen

Downtown Encyclopedia Brown

Chicken Witch

Dick Pointer

Soup, the Son

The Legendary Pink Elephants

Baby-Mama Rabbit

Wisconsin Belle

The Babes

Aaaand, of course, a very generous sponsor who (not-so-much) wishes to remain anonymous.

It is…Sunday, February 12, Two-Thousand and Twenty-Free. Time...Euthanizing

Theme – Old Habits Die Hard

This definitely came around multiple times this week. It’s so very true. Habits become engrained over time. They may be addictions or distractions – such as coffee or smoking cigarettes. They They can be physical or mental or emotional. They can be mindsets – beliefs we develop about ourselves, about the world. They can be healthy or unhealthy. Supportive or crippling. But anything in excess becomes bad. I faced many of mine this week. Mindsets towards working vs. time off. Mindsets towards my worth and potential. Mindsets towards ‘The Perceived Reality.’ I faced addictions and distractions of all shapes and sizes. I realized that they all developed a time when I faced so much opposition and negativity at every turn. I felt hurt and helpless and hopeless. I felt worthless. I felt pointless. I felt confused and lost and just a little bit dead. The habits developed in response. I latched onto any activity that made me feel alive in any way. Engaged in mindsets that kept me walled up. It is all programming and it takes time to undo it all.

Lesson – Balance

I feel like this appeared in The Trinity not too long ago. But, it was definitely a focus this week. A balance of everything. For instance, a work-life balance. The work is important. The money will come. But I must balance it all out with time to engage in the whole of my life. I must balance my thoughts and my emotions. I must balance my deeds. I must balance my time and my money. It’s not about doing without. It’s about learning to give Just Enough to everything. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but Just Enough to keep the whole of your life balanced. It does not need to be the same amount across the board all the time. Balanced does not always mean equal.

Observation – Every Day a Quest

I found myself popping in an out of Quest Mode throughout the week. I don’t know how to describe it for you, Fellow Travelers. It is a whole experience. It is this sudden awareness and connectedness. It is also a mindset. The Quest requires one to be still and silent, all the while moving and doing. On a Quest, one cannot force things. One can only follow the path ever unfolding and see how things turn out. Every day should be like this. I once referred to it as ‘A Retired State of Mind’ – comfortable, calm, casual. Never in a rush to get anywhere. Whatever doesn’t get done today will get done tomorrow. It’s not about being aloof or lazy or irresponsible. It’s actually a very Zen thing. ‘A Retired State of Mind’ keeps the mind clear. Just what is needed to Quest every day.

The Post

The post title was going to be ‘The First Day of the Rest of My Year,’ because that is a more accurate sentiment. However, ‘The First Day of the Rest of My Life’ is not only still a correct sentiment it is seemed more attention grabbing. [Secretly and selfishly, in the hopes that it might draw a person to pop it open and take a read – even if brief.]

This was, of course, the first week of the rest of my life. No different than that original saying about the day. Every day you open your eyes is the first of the rest. This is not just an obvious statement. It is meant to be a call to hope and faith and courage and strength. It is there to remind you that the past is just that and that you can start Right This Moment to build the tomorrow that you want.

Of course, this was also the first week of my year [the rest of my year.] If you have been following along for a while now, you know that year seems to have its own cycle and flow. January is a Void and life cannot begin until after the Void.

Usually, this transition is marked by Imbolc. But, this year, Imbolc bounced right into a Full Moon cycle – which seemed to throw the whole thing off by a few days. My new year, my new life, truly seemed to begin this week.

The week itself was intense – filled with revelations, realizations and rewards. It was so intense, in fact, that every day is already Once Upon Ago.

“Monday? What century was that?”

That is how it feels. So, I will try to recall it and recap it the best I can. [I was not so good at taking notes this week.] Perhaps, instead of days, I will focus on moments. Yet, I seem to only to be able to think in days.

Yet, as I already alluded to, Monday is just a big fuckin’ blur.

Tuesday had activity. There was a brief Safety Meeting and I had an event at The Meeting Place. Both were significant in different [and multiple] ways.

The Safety Meeting was planned. Mostly. I got the heads up from The Professor on Monday night. Once again, he arrived at The Clubhouse fairly early and I got there just after lunch rush. Of course, that was late enough that The Putter was running out the door to pick up one of his granddaughters from school.

The Professor and I hung out and chatted a bit. He has cancer of the …something. My brain did not catch that piece of information. I know he has cancer. I know it is stage 1. I know they are looking at various treatment possibilities.

I gave him the address to New Geistopia and told him he should stop by sometime. He mentioned that he would be back down this way again this coming Tuesday and may or may not be able to pop in.

I still feel like something is askew with The Putter and me. However, my resolution is – if it’s not important enough for him to bring up, then it isn’t important enough for me to really give a shit what it is. So, I go on with my life.

Of course, there is always the possibility that it is in my head. Fed by my insecurities and guilts and whatevers. My own personal touch of insanity. [Because we all have just a touch.] In which case, the best path to healing it is to just go on with my life. Let those experiences be like every other – flowing easily, happening naturally. Wait for the moment to feel right and align on its own.

If that moment should never come, then those days are past – Once Upon Ago.

The Meeting Place was as The Meeting Place has been. No matter how I am feeling personally, I understand that I must go. It’s not even a matter of when I can. It has been put forth simply as, “Go!.” I am reminded of this every time it rolls around.

I was, once again, highly focused on money this week. Not for he same reason as past weeks, but we will discuss finances in a bit. [Finances are an important subplot. Hint, hint. Wink, wink.] I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I found myself in a similar place as last week. As the hour was rolling near, I was just so close but not quite there.

This always leaves me with hesitation about going. I just feel like it makes more sense [“responsibly”] to stay on the road and try to make the money. [Talking about money has joggled my brain on Monday.]

Nonetheless, at one point, Brother John messaged me and asked if I was going. Though my response was, “Idk. It depends on how my day goes,” I knew before I finished typing what the answer really was.

Of course I was going.

I don’t have a choice. It is what has been put before me and I must follow through with it.

Period.

Turns out Brother John had some meat for me. Which is why he wanted to know if I was attending the event. He didn’t bring it but I have gotten it now. It is abundant. I think I counted like 10 porkchops, 8 t bones and 2 pot roasts.

That is enough meat for 3 full weeks of dinners. Plus, there is a ring of sausage and some scrapple. I am thrilled, because I do love to cook and put meals together. Especially on a budget. Also, The Princesses are coming for two nights this weekend. I can use some of that for one of our dinners and they will probably be on their own for the other.

Anyway, the event was as they all are. I get lifted to such a place spiritually. It is truly like walking between the realms for me. It’s really quite refreshing. [Perhaps even empowering.]

And, it is here that I lose the days. From about Wednesday afternoon, they all just blend together. In fact, I just realized that The Safety Meeting happened on Wednesday, not Tuesday. That should tell you just how askew my perception of time is, Fellow Travelers. I only realized it because the last moment that I can actually put to a day was visiting and associate in the hospital. I did that on Wednesday. And, I was at the Safety Meeting before that.

So, beyond the days, what were significant moments?

I scratched my glasses lens kinda bad. Gouged is more like it. But just a very small gouge. Small enough to not be obnoxious. Large enough to be annoying. One may wonder how this is significant. It happened rather randomly and I was definitely irritated at first. But then I decided to make the most of the moment. I went and got a quote for glasses. Turns out, it is going to be much less expensive than I thought. Eye exam and 2 pair of [what will most likely be] bifocal glasses for less than $120. It’s just time for new glasses, I suppose.

I know I had another day with a lot of crown/third eye/wisdom chakra activity, but I can’t tell you which day it was. It was one of those experiences that took me out of the game for the day.

That was an Observation this week. I’m still going through this cycle of being taken off the road randomly. Sometimes by choice, often not. That seemed especially true this week. I feel like I spent a good amount of time at home. Yet, this week worked out better than any of the previous ones. [More on finances in a moment]

Do Less, Have More

The Theatre lost their dishwasher, which I may have mentioned last week. I was going to fil lin for them but they found someone at the last moment. However, I still went in all three days this weekend, for at least a little while, to help train and support him a bit.

There was a bit of a Lesson involved with all of this. Lil Boss and I are always at odds about how frequently to change the water in the three compartment sink. She thinks I do not change it enough. Admittedly, there are times I try to stretch through the night. Especially if it is a very small house. But, also, at one time there was an issue with the sink trap and it would take a very long time just to drain one sink. My workload doesn’t stop long enough for me to stand and ‘drain sit’ three 15 gal. sinks of water. That is no longer an issue. So, yes, it should get changed as needed.

This all came up because I told her to just watch the new guy. He has a tendency not to rinse pans and stuff before putting g them in the sink. One night, I came in and he changed the water as soon as I got there. 10 minutes later it was absolutely filthy. A solid brown color. You couldn’t see anything in the water. 10 minutes. She may want the water changed often but I do not think she wants it changed that often.

She made the comment, “Well it’s just two different ways of doing it.” What I heard was “No one’s really right. No one’s really wrong. It doesn’t really matter.”

She’s not wrong in either version of the statement. But, I’m not wrong either. Everything I do in that that dish room [in regards to the sink] is about preserving the water – getting the most use out of it that I can before having to change it.

First, I run the water as hot as I can possibly stand it. [Usually with gloves.] I think the required temp is something like 110 or 120. I absolutely run it hotter than that. I have time before it cools below temp.

My next step is to rinse off everything I am going to wash. Even if it doesn’t appear to need it. This reduces the amount of food and dirt particles that get into the water.

Finally, I wash from cleanest to dirtiest. For instance, most of the initial silver baking trays that come back are minimally dirty and I rinse most of that off. So, they go first. Then I’ll do other pots and pans that I was able to spray practically clean. I will work up to things like the soup pots which may have a lil extra cooked to the sides. With the soup pots should be the first time I see dirt in my sink.

It should all be timed right that I can get some of the cleaner kitchen dishes from round two before I change the sink. Technically, it will probably need to get changed one more time in the middle of round two. That means 2 sink changes in a night. That works out to be about 1 change every 60-90 minutes. If I remember correctly the standard is 2 hours. [Though it may only be 1.]

Nonetheless, the Lesson was that Nobody’s Wrong…Nobody’s Right.

She says it is “just two different ways of doing it.” I say, “It is just two different ways of seeing it.”

We both have the same Goal – to get the dishes washed as best as possible. This includes maintaining the water properly. We just see that process differently. I have a minor Goal. I want to do the job right. But I also want to do it in the most productive, efficient and cost effective way possible. So, I developed Systems & Routines in order to achieve that.

Systems & Routines Save the World

This is Big Boss’ most famous quote. And, he’s right. But Systems & Routines are comprised of Subtleties. It’s why corporations and successful companies have such intensive operations manuals and procedures. It is a collection of Subtleties brought together to achieve some Goal or another. And to do so as properly, productively, safely, efficiently, and cost-effective as possible.

Everyone Wins.

So, after the Lesson saw this whole expansion in my mind, it collapsed and came back to Nobody’s Wrong…Nobody’s Right. In dealing with others and potential conflicts and disagreements, even in day to day doings – we just need to remember that we are all working towards the same Goal. We just all have individual visions of what that means.

Aaaaannnnd….that is how my mind works, folks. All that from just one passing moment. [and there was more. Much much more.]

Other moments…I realized and had to accept this week that I can be an instigating asshole. I’m not apologizing. I don’t feel bad about it. However, like anything else it must be tempered. It has it’s place and purpose at times. But, I must find balance.

Belle has asked me recently if being in the house has settled into my mind. Yes and no. It is all such a big and drastic change. I went from living in my car to being in a house. The house has become mostly furnished. I went from sleeping on the ‘floor’ of the rocket to an air mattress to an actual bed. I’ve been here a while and things have clicked slowly into place. But in the Grand Scheme of things, it was like the blink of an eye in my life. Like going from 0-60 in record breaking time.

So, it’s real. It’s happening. But, it’s like a shock to the system. I don’t think that I have quite settled from the shock…

…I apologize, Fellow Travelers. I got my head into something real deep there and I didn’t really get out. I got in deep, lost my groove, and now it is Wednesday. I am going to need to cease all thoughts right there and try to pick it up again next week.

The moral of the post is that it was a good week. It was the first week of the rest of my year and I am now expecting a pretty good year.

If you’re not already there, go to the Welcome to my Life Facebook page – WTML. Or the YouTube channel – WelcomeToMyLife08. You can also find me on Facebook under Rev. Matt.

Wherever you are and whenever you are – Like, Comment, and Share – we’re on a Journey and it takes you to get there.

So, without hesitation, for now and for always, from here in Geistopia, this is your beloved Rev…

WALT: And Walt…

DOC: Unt Doc…

JOHNNY: Aaaaand Johnny…

And those guys, saying, “Stay Tuned-In, Fellow Travelers,” and wishing you Peace, Love, Light…

WALT: And Freakishness, Baby.

The Totems & Archetypes

**from Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak**

No Totems to speak of this week. I mean, I’m sure there were some. But I cannot remember enough of the week to recall what they may have been.