shawndaddy

The internet has always been a funny place to me. Especially when it comes to people: How they interact with one another, relationships formed via cyberspace, and of course "blogs".

Now, I don't want to come across as a hypocrite. Yes, I've certainly made friends and such from the internet. Some of my favorite people are friends I've met online. And yes I "blog" about things. I think it can be incredibly therapeutic to open your heart up and share things with the world. I recommend it to anyone. But reading some of these blogs (not just on this site) makes me wonder Do these people enjoy their life at all? Are they happy and only chose to write about the negative, or is that all they have?

Day after day I see these same people repeating the same mistakes. Hating their lives and doing nothing to change things. Having been in a place where I hated my life and myself, I can relate. At the same time, as someone who has gotten off their ass and made the necessary changes needed to be happy, it's frustrating as hell to see.

Of course there are things in life that you can't just "fix". Sometimes change is easier said than done, but it seems to me that we've become a society of crybabies who'd rather whine about things than fix them. If your girlfriend treats you like shit, leave her! Tired of feeling like your life is meaningless? Then stop getting wasted every fucking night, move out of mommy and daddy's house, and take control of your life.

Sure most people want to be happy. (I say "most people" because I've know a few people in my life who could only be happy when they had something to bitch about). Anyway, sure most people want to be happy. But happiness isn't a fucking Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstake. You can't just sit around on your ass waiting for it to show up at your door. Sometimes you have to work for it.

I'm happier than I've ever been in my entire life, but my happiness has nothing to do with luck. It didn't just fall into my lap like a stripper with a weak ankle.

I'm happy because I make the choice to be happy. ..Every day.

Yes, I have an amazing woman in my life and of course that helps. But she didn't just magically appear. I first had to make the choice. I had to realize I deserved happiness and that I would do what it took to be happy even if that meant throwing an unloving wife out of my house.

Life isn't perfect. It would be far too boring if it were.

I have a bum shoulder, bad knees, and less hair on my head than I'd like. I've had lows in my life that have brought me to the brink of suicide. None of that means that I can't be happy. Happiness is a choice. Choose to go outside today and look at the sky. Take in the beauty of the world around you. If there's something in your life keeping you from being happy, whether it be a person or a job or whatever cut it out. Remove it from your life like a fucking cancer. You'll be glad you did.

Or, take the easy way out. Do nothing to change things. Hate your place in life. Dream of obtainable things that you're too lazy or weak to pursue and cry about it to anyone who'll listen.

The choice is up to you.

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful weekend and holiday season. May you all find the things in life that make you happy and do whatever you can to spread that happiness to others.

- Shawn


p.s.
There is no need to bring up the plight of the starving, the homeless, etc. My ramblings in this journal are directed toward the typical young American with thousands of possibilities for a wonderful life.



*****

Edited to add:

You certainly had your ups and downs..... but you'll always be remembered as the Godfather of Soul.




Rest in Peace Mr. Brown