I Wasn’t A Full Person Until My Heart Was Destroyed

“I tried on a lumpy wool cardigan that looked like a lamb had died on me.” Now that I live in the hometown of the hipsters, it’s fascinating to read articles describing them. Most are literary cheap shots, but this piece was so goddamn funny, I could barely contain myself. Much respect to journalist Henry Alford. I aspire to write sentences that good. I mean, that well.

“I wasn’t a full person until my heart
was destroyed.” There are certain experiences every human should have. One is breaking the heart of someone you love. The other is getting your heart broken by someone you love. Personally, I’ve done both. And I’m not sure which experience hurts more, but maybe that’s not the point. As long as you make it out of the minefield alive, you’re better because of it. Thanks, Maron.

“My mother couldn’t stop this other
machine that was revving up.” When mentally unstable kids shoot up a school, we should blame the parents. And when mentally brilliant kids graduate from that school and go on to do work that changes the world, we should blame the parents too. It’s all their fault. the good and the bad. This article about George Carlin’s upbringing should be a case study for new mothers and fathers.

“I just don’t want to subject myself to the butchery.” Pulled this passage from Eric Maisel’s new book, Making Your Creative Mark. Interesting. In all the years that I’ve been publishing books, articles, blogs, presentations and other art, I’ve never felt that way. Subjected? Butchery? Not when you hire yourself. Not when create art your own terms. Sure, the quality of the work might be twenty percent less, but the happiness of your life is eighty percent better. Sounds like a dope tradeoff to me.

“When I work, I exist in a way that
makes sense to me.” I’m wired similarly to cartoonist Scott Adams. Work validates my existence. I’m happier when I’m being productive and prolific. And there’s a place in me
that starves if I go more than a few days withoutnudging the world in a positive direction. Now, I’m not saying everyone should live this way, but I am saying everyone should understand what motivates them. It makes life simpler.

“I’m blessed with a certain amount of
amnesia.” Great line from a great interview with the great Leonard Cohen. It must be nice to be able to forget things. For me, it’s the opposite. I can’t forget things. Memory is my superpower. I can’t explain it. My entire life, I’ve been able to remember names, images, dates, words, experiences and facts. Something that happened once, twenty years ago, I’ll call back on the spot. It’s scary. And what’s even scarier is, I still can’t remember to turn the shower nozzle all the way off each morning.

“God is how we describe the sense that
there is more.” Heard this passage on podcast from a cool church in Portland. Couple of things. First, I believe there is more. Second, I believe it’s important to describe the sense that there is more. Third, I believe God is the wrong word to use for that description. Too much baggage. Too much distorted meaning. Too much connection too much outdated thinking. We can do better. Somebody call Webster.