That being said, some of you still should've pulled up for conversation or the very least, brisket. Guess what? You still have time. I might have even dug out the best hand cut filets or ribeyes in town (for my vegetarian or vegan friends, eggplant parm or some sort of root vegetable from the farmer's market) to chow and shoot the breeze.
So...what has made flipping the switch so dang difficult?
I really don't know.
Perhaps I legitimately needed to reset for the first time in eighteen years from working like a government mule and peep the changing landscape around me. I've begun cleaning out my digital space and footprint - and the literal one - as well, but that bit of work feels incomplete. I still have that itch to waste time (and strain both my neck and fingers) by perusing social media, and when it comes to the yardwork and such, the labor part tends to fall by the wayside. Even as the days shorten and the temperatures fall, I still feel that the break away just wasn't long enough yet as a borderline recluse and professional night owl, I could easily do without people beyond the two I share home with and a few friends and neighbors indefinitely.
What about needing this money?
Sitting around the house to receive a pittance from a job that has barely paid the bills may be a cause of concern. Everything is taken care of, so no alarms or a GoFundMe or whatever quick fundraising scheme exists is necessary. All it does is evaluate my spending habits and as easy and wholesome it would be to say leave all my faith and trust in the Lord above, Ford Motor Company, State Farm, the mortgage, etc. all tend to induce a fret here and there with the monthly statements. So, while I could use the cheddar, living for the greenbacks alone just doesn't cut the mustard.
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Fellas, please go get checked, and if there is a family history, make the phone call as soon as possible! Due to genetics, I've always known that I needed to be seen but what if I told you that I believe that both lifestyle and habits have something to do with it? My sedentary nights in the office and well-known obsession with making damn good barbecue every single cook may have been contributors, and as I stop short of blaming either, the sitting around can be considered unhelpful.
Here is the history, and something we can thank former President George W. Bush for. Read below:
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month was designated in 1999 by the American Foundation for Urological Disease (now known as the Urology Care Foundation). In 2003, President George W. Bush officially declared September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Signs & Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:
Blood in urine
Blood in semen
Trouble urinating
Unintentional weight
Erectile dysfunction
Bone pain
Decreased force in the stream of urine
Sometimes, flipping the switch is easy.
Sometimes, I'd rather stay in bed.
What comes of flipping the switch? Is it maximizing my value not only to the people at home but also my job, family, longtime friends, but also having what some think should be a 24/7 availability for shenanigans and their assorted projects? Or am I heading back to a burnout worse than the one that got me out of education some thirteen years ago? Even beyond that mental breakdown, would I feel compelled to answer every phone call from seasons past with new priorities on the horizon seen and undiscovered?
As I continue to navigate the new life of carrying a backpack with my medical supplies around nearly everywhere because I cannot trust public bathrooms anymore and I never know when a spasm may occur, keep me in your fervent prayers for a complete recovery in all aspects. Flipping the switch will get easier over time; consequently, there are some directions that absolutely do not need to be revisited.
God bless, I'm out.
