374.....

   

374 - Days since my last blog post.  I know no ones waiting with bated breath for me to drop a new nugget of wisdom or anecdotal story but yeah, even for me, that's a fair bit of time away from the writing tools 

I've tried.  God knows I've tried.  There has been plenty of time to think on trains, or in taxis, in the truck, at the gym, or the uncountable restless nights in bed.  I know what the issue is and have alluded to it in the past.  Moxie gone has really spun my creative side into a nose dive.  I have started playing guitar again which is a small win and the writing wants to come out, but yeah... It takes a lot of energy out of me to create in this format as well so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I've had a couple of really good story-line ideas for the "Big, Bad, Never Ending, Unfinished Great Canadian Novel" and that has helped spur me back into the groove of writing.  

For now, I'll blog and shake off the rust, as well as give my inner self the excuse for not writing later if/when I get lazy at home in my zone and bail on it as I've been wont to do so many times these past two years. 

    For now, let us talk about change and the 'village'.  No, not the M Night Shamalamadingdong movie (Which, I actually still enjoy, contrary to most opinions), but the social villages we all build to get through life.  As Hugh Grant said in  About A Boy, 'I AM an island, I'm bloody Ibiza!"  but he wasn't and we all feel that same draw for community.  I spoke with a co-worker recently who, amongst other things, commented on not having any real friends or supports in their life when things get difficult and it really made me sad to think that there are people out there who are truly Islands whether they choose to be or not.  My guess is that the majority of these people would rather be a peninsula or part of the continental shelf than their current state of isolation.

So, gentle reader, I challenge you to think about your village; Your family and friends who are family, the ones who are there as much as they can be, the ones you reach out for in hard times.  Cherish these people because a fair few people out there don't have any of that to rely on and are truly on islands. Some are stranded for the duration for various reasons we wont touch up on here, not the focus of the post. I know that some people are luckier than others (or blessed or whatever term you'd prefer), and have numerous friends and family that they can truly count on especially when life gets ugly and messy, and have no doubt, gentle reader, life comes at you fast and having these people, near and far, can be a life saver.  Be grateful, thank them, tell them you love them because we definitely not guaranteed all of the tomorrows.  

This post isn't a downer..I hope it isn't a downer anyway.  I'm writing this and thinking of my best friend who I've known for 45 years... 45 YEARS!!!! Its insane on many levels to think about that.  He's a steadfast, loyal, honest and blunt friend whenever I need him to be.  He's a brother from another mother in the truest sense and I am so lucky to know this person.  He lives far from me but we still connect enough (Thank you space age Jetson's level technology) and we check in on each other and that's enough.  Another good friend whom I've gone through a lot of pain and grief with lives in Poland and I try to visit him as much as I can and his family is my family.  His mom randomly sends me pics of her dog and checks up on me just to tell me she misses me and thats a hell of a feeling.  He and I will still have crazy conversations well into the night as we drink and laugh and sometimes argue as we have done since we were kids.  I wish his sister were there to enjoy it all with us but I like to think that she is, in her own way.  I've reconnected with a friend who, of my closest friends, also lives the closest, only an hour away.  We share our shit and our wins and frustrations, we commiserate and support where we can and I've never in my life eished for good things harder for someone than for that guy.  These are good people and have been around through the absolute worst times in my life; my childhood, teen years, divorce, basically my twenties haha, but they have been resilient, and even with gaps in time and arguments and furious  texts and calls about life decisions, we are still friends and closer than ever.  

  Don't even get me started on the groups of friends who are near and far that rag on me, send me the memes, check in on me only to mock me (which I appreciate, dicks), and still help out when and where their busy lives allow, and I do the same where I can with my wonky schedule and shit lifestyle  with work.  

   This post is one of thanks and gratitude... luck maybe?  Divine protection? Who can say... all I know for sure, I would have died on a number of occasions if I didn't have these people in my life.  I'm truly a very lucky guy.  I have people who support and love me, even as they send some pretty rotten memes my way hahah...jerks.  I wouldn't have made it this far without you all, if you're bothering to read this, ya bunch of mouth breathers.  I love you all... Even if we don't talk or visit enough, it's a massive comfort for me in my own isolation, on my own Ibiza, to know that a quick flight., boat ride, or swim dammit, whatever I need to do to reconnect, is never far and always available.  I'm the wealthiest person I know, even if my bank account keeps emailing me telling me my balance is less than a hundred dollars.  

  So be grateful. Think about the good ones in your life.  Reach out.  Bask in the love that's out there.  Not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy that kind of warmth and sun on their faces.