Tuesday – Unemployed, Chasing My Dreams.. and Getting Stronger
Fifth Attempt – Day 7 of My “30-Day Experiment”
9:35 AM
Rise and shine, world! I’ll have you know I conquered sleep last night like a boss. Waking up at the ungodly hour of 6:45 AM might sound like a crime to my snooze button, but guess what? It felt like I had just unlocked the secrets of the universe in my slumber.
Now, let me introduce you to the main character of today’s show: Allan. Brace yourself for this bombshell—I repeat, brace yourself—this dude didn’t wake up grumpy. Nope, not a trace of the usual morning grouchiness. It’s like I woke up in an alternate universe where coffee isn’t even necessary. Odd? Absolutely. Loved it? You betcha!
With energy levels soaring, Allan and I tackled our chore list like superheroes on a mission. First stop, the hardware store – dirt for Allan’s gardening escapades and nails to rescue the camp from impending doom. A stop at the gas station followed, where we basically had the place to ourselves. It was great to do so much that early.
10:01 AM
Hold onto your hats, folks, because I’m about to drop a bombshell: Allan and I were both productive at the same time. Yes, you read that right! Eight years of coexisting in a whirlwind of chaos, and now, suddenly, the winds of change are blowing in our favor.
And the mess at the camp? It’s getting cleaned up, and so are our lives.
Someone pinch me, please.
10:33 AM
I’ve gotta say, sometimes it’s the small wins that really get the party started. Case in point: I just made my debut on Society6 and earned myself a whopping $1.68! Not exactly a ticket to a luxury vacation, but hey, it’s a start.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is my art empire.
11:22 AM
Raise your hand if you’ve ever tried to concentrate in a world full of distractions. Everyone? Thought so.
Well, fear not, because I’ve stumbled upon a secret weapon: white noise.
Thanks to a YouTube video that promises “STUDY POWER,” I’ve discovered that a constant hum in my ears, via headphones, can turn my focus dial up a notch.
Who knew?
12:09 PM
Around 11:30 AM, Allan popped the question: “Want to go for a walk?” Now, you might be thinking, “Big deal, a walk.” But believe me, for us, it’s become more than just a stroll; it’s a lifeline. These walks are keeping us on the straight and narrow, and we’ve been sober for a week now, can you believe it? So, of course, I hopped up, no second thoughts, and we were off.
We decided to spice things up and explore a new trail, one that we’d never set foot on before. And let me tell you, it was like stumbling upon a hidden gem. The trail led us to this magical spot that was bursting with life and colors. Imagine this: little campers peppered around like confetti, picturesque landscapes stretching as far as the eye could see, and gazebos beckoning us to take a breather. Oh, and let’s not forget the vibrant Adirondack chairs, like a rainbow had just melted all over them.
But that’s not all – canoes and boats bobbed gently on a serene lake, reflecting the types of trees that honestly, I didn’t even know existed. And let me tell you, they were something out of a fairy tale. Different shapes, sizes, and colors; I stood there, feeling like I had stumbled upon the wardrobe into Narnia.
The crazy part? This little slice of paradise was just a hop, skip, and a jump away from my parents’ humble fishing camp that we’ve called home for over a year. Can you believe it? We’ve been right next to this magical place all along, and alcohol had been blinding us to the wonders that were right under our noses.
It’s like we took a mini-vacation from all the world’s chaos without even leaving our neighborhood. Who would’ve thought? It’s times like these that make me realize just how much beauty and joy we miss out on when we’re trapped in our own negative cycles.
So, here’s to walks that lead us to unexpected wonderlands and to breaking free from the chains that have held us captive for too long!
2:08 PM
And just when you think the day couldn’t get any better, Allan goes all survivalist and catches a fish! A big bass! Talk about free food with a side of triumphant satisfaction. Plus, rumor has it that home-caught fish tastes way better than store-bought. Something to consider for future dinner plans, right?
3:17 PM
So, about 10 minutes ago, I was thinking, ‘Phew, this day is free from any alcohol cravings!’ The past week I’ve been on a bit of a journey battling those pesky cravings, and it’s like a breath of fresh air when I manage to stay strong.
But hold on, life decides to throw a curveball.
I just opened a letter, and bam! Turns out my trusty SUV is getting recalled. Can you imagine my face going from “I got this” to “Oh no, not again”? And here’s the kicker – the dealership is a good hour’s drive away. I mean, seriously? Just when you think you’re safe from unexpected expenses and time-consuming errands, the universe is like, “Nah, hold my coffee.”
And let’s not even get started on the gas prices. I swear they’re having a competition to see who can reach the highest price first. It’s like a game of limbo, but with my wallet. I’m at a point where I have to ration my trips, calculating if I can venture more than 6 minutes away from the camp without breaking the bank.
The struggle is real.
Now, let’s talk about phones. Ah, the modern marvel that can strike fear into the hearts of many, especially those with a touch of social anxiety. Guess what? I’m in that boat. Calling the dealership on the phone feels like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded. But surprise, surprise, the woman on the other end of the line turns out to be an absolute gem. It’s like the universe realized it threw me a lemon earlier and decided to send some sugar my way.
You know, in the past, dealing with this kind of stress would have sent me straight to the liquor store. But not today. I’m working on healthier ways to cope, and it’s a journey, let me tell you.
So, my grand plan to deal with this stress? I’ve decided to unwind by watching an episode of “America’s Got Talent.” Sometimes, I just need a bit of good ol’ entertainment to take your mind off things. And trust me, watching people showcase their quirky talents is a welcome distraction from car troubles and expensive gas.
3:41 PM
I actually did it – I didn’t drive to the liquor store. Victory dance, anyone?
So, rewind a bit. I’m sitting on the couch, feeling the pull of that old familiar craving. You know, the one that whispers, “Just a quick trip to the liquor store, and everything will be better.” But I’d had enough of that game. Instead, I did something I’ve been promising myself I’d do – I turned on America’s Got Talent to watch just one video before getting back to work.
Now, this is where it gets good. I stumbled upon a video that had just dropped on YouTube. I’m talking one hour ago, and it already had over 31,000 views. Curiosity piqued, I clicked, and oh boy, was it a game-changer.
This video starred a man named Zion Clark. Born with a condition that left him legless, he had the deck stacked against him from day one. But guess what? This guy didn’t let that hold him back. Nope, not a chance. He went from a rocky start in the foster care system for 17 years – with all sorts of challenges – to becoming a wrestler and even joining Pro MMA. I’m talking about a dude who faced physical and mental mountains but decided to bulldoze right through them.
And you know what? His story hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s like life handed him lemons the size of boulders, and he turned them into lemonade that could fuel a rocket. That’s the power of the human spirit, right there. No excuses, just guts and glory.
Zion’s journey threw a big ol’ wrench in my craving plans. It reminded me that I’m not alone in this world, and my challenges – like a pesky SUV recall – are peanuts in the grand scheme. Seriously, I was stressed about a car recall, and my solution was to drown it in a bottle? It’s like a bad sitcom plot, only it’s real life.
But this video, oh boy, it put everything back into perspective. It reminded me that there’s so much more to life than those old temptations. So here’s the plan – I’m gonna sweat it out, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Working out’s like hitting the reset button on my brain, and then it’s back to chasing my dreams.
Lesson of the day? Life’s full of curveballs and challenges. But there’s a dude named Zion out there who’s showing us how to knock ’em out of the park.
Learn how to fail. I failed so many times… why can’t you?
Zion, Clark. [America’s Got Talent]. (2023, Aug 1). Early Release: Zion Clark’s unstoppable determination INSPIRES the judges | Auditions | AGT 2023. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RRA3t_9hX50
9:00 PM
As the day winds down, it’s time for some quality reading and beauty sleep. The pages of Simon Chapple’s book (Amazon) await, promising dreams filled with inspiration and ideas.
So here’s to a day of discoveries, resilience, and a newfound appreciation for the journey.
Until tomorrow,
– That Anonymous Artist