drama

Ever notice how other people aren't happy unless their life is rife with drama?  Not only are they unhappy with their own life but they insist on forcing their issues and problems on others.  Amazingly, by pushing these issues on the unsuspecting they become happier.  I like to think of this ironic twist of self-perpetuating grief alleviation as the "albatross effect."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote The Rime of the Ancient Mariner in 1797/98; his poem served as a metaphor for people who carry an intimate burden and can't find relief unless they tell their story to someone else, thereby placing their burden on another individual.  The ancient mariner, as a result of killing the ominous albatross, was forced to wear it around his neck forever, telling his tale to anyone who would listen--the telling of the tale the only way to remove the stress, albeit temporarily.  Ever know anyone like that?  I do and I find this to be such a depressing way to live life. 

We all get down on ourselves from time-to-time; we allow others to live rent free in our own minds every-now-and-again.  But at the end of the day we must bear our own faults, our own fallacies and our own misadventures. 

My friend Gary Gabelhouse, renowned businessman and author, had often typed a quote which I stole shamelessly.  Whenever someone would get worked up over something irrelevant, something that didn't contribute to the world spinning, something that wouldn't feed a fly, he would/will say, "Why are we pole vaulting over mouse turds?"  I love this quote and use it frequently.  There are those with whom I work who shamelessly now use the infamous words of one Mr. Gabelhouse.  I hope he didn't trademark that phrase; if he did, I'm sued and screwed, but then we're probably pole vaulting over mouse turds.

The bottom line is this--short of death and decomposure, what are you getting all worked up about?  Why do you worry about the actions of others and why do you insist on forcing your bad karma on everyone else?  Do you worry about where your next meal is coming from?  Do you worry about putting clothes on your kid's back?  If not.....hush...those mouse turds ain't that big. 

I've always wondered what that albatross would taste like.  If you scalded, de-feathered, eviscerated and cut it up....marinated it in a little Dale's Sauce....how would it taste?  Would eating it make all your problems go away?