The Fight for Happiness is Real

“Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness.”
— Ayn Rand

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Whenever you’re finding these words, I appreciate your interest.  A beautiful day on the mountain, there is a house full, ten I think, women I’m the only male in the house.  There is a female dog and two female cats, 13 to 1, not good odds. I’ll escape with a friend in about 3 hours; I’m heading to Telluride while the ladies do whatever they plan to do.  I’ve heard various versions of their plans; at this point, have fun; I’m headed to Jazz Fest.

There seem to be some severe issues, small signals, things are not working as they should.   You can point to the rising gas prices as an indicator; I can’t fathom why gas prices are up.  I think this started in January; what changed in January?  Many of our visitors had delayed flights; another signal something is amiss in our world.  Labor shortages, supply chain issues, get ready, grab your Billy Beer.  I had a guest in the furniture business over the other night; he shared, he could see me as a lazy boy, but it would be eight weeks until I received it, and he could not tell me how much it cost.  The prices were fluctuating that much from day to day.

Vaccine passports are here; I’ll have to show my “papers” when attending the Jazz Fest.  I suspect many will have forged papers; it’s what you do in an authoritarian state.  Rules for thee, but not for me.  Are you watching? Are you paying attention?  In France, they are going restaurant to restaurant to check the papers of those sitting outside having coffee.  How far are we away from having the authorities check our health status?

We don’t have to accept this, you know.  We can refuse, we don’t have to wear senseless masks, we don’t have to show our papers, we can kick back.  I’m starting to see a lot of parents stand up to their local school system.  The curriculum they are teaching is a little wonky; many mandating that young children wear masks; it’s child abuse; if you choose to wear a mask, good on you but don’t expect me to follow your illogical rules virtual signals.

Are we better off than we were nine months ago?  Honest question, no matter your political bent, how are you doing?  We had a call with our team yesterday, and the question posed to all was if you could have lunch with any person ever born, who would it be.  Many stated their parents or grandparents; I shared I would like to sit and listen to Matthew McConnehey.  But one of our teammates shared, he would like to dine with Jordan Peterson.  If you don’t know Jordan, you might do a little research, a kind man with a long-lost perspective on what it means to be a functional and productive human.

I bought 25 books, the follow-up to Green Lights; it’s a journal; I’ll be giving them to friends and family to help them kick off their daily diary.  I’ve got the chops down, but others could benefit from a softball phrase to get them started. For example, if I were to have you journal today, I would ask, “What is one thing that is making you most proud about your life today?” Then, pen a thousand words or so about what in your life or mind’s eye gives you a prideful feeling.  Don’t’ minimize or feel sorry; pride is something we all should have about people, places, and things in our life.

So go about your life, don’t let anyone or anything tell you how to live.  You have the power to make your own decisions on your level of risk.  Rember the sage advice of my Uncle Hunter, Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

I’ve got to run; I need to shower, pack and get the hell out of this den of women.  One’s good, two’s fine, but 10, that’s a lot. So, I’m heading to hang with thousands of like-minded people; I’ll take my laptop to share my experience tonight. We will meet a wizard, eat some good food, and listen to some jazz in paradise.  I hope these words find you in a good spot, and if not, what can I do to help you?

“Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness.”
— Ayn Rand