Mouzr's Mayhem

By Amanda Mouser

True pleasure in life can't be bought, but merely sought. The quest for such takes some people longer than others, due to the fact that many like wallowing in self pity in hopes of gaining attention and then there are those who simply read the first line of this paragraph without actually grasping it. If that person is you and your now feeling that uneasy feeling you get after downing three shots of Crown Royal and realizing that eating the bowl of your dad's famous "Mr. Torch's Butt Burning" chili wasn't such a good idea, especially on a first date, reread that first paragraph and let it soak in this time.

Enjoying life and the cards you have been dealt is something from inside of you that rolls in like the tides. Rising, then falling again. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Predictable. The length and skill at which you ride these waves depends on your will to be happy. And, of course, being able to keep these three words in the back of your head at all times - "Damn the Man!"

Speaking of playing the cards you've been dealt. They're the only cards you have and be lucky you have them. Cause you never know, you may look down and see a seven, a four, an eight, and two deuces, and in that instant the dealer calls deuces wild and just then the crappiest pair of twos becomes a straight. Even if you aren't that lucky, without the wild cards, you still have a pair and that might be just enough.

No, I'm not the most optimistic person and definitely know bad days when they come along, but I also know good days. Days when you wake up and your favorite cereal fills your belly until you fall back asleep watching SpongeBob SquarePants on your faded green garage sale couch. You know. The one with the cigarette burn from your brother-in-law the "Smoking Booze Hound," who never understood the concept of "in moderation."

I don't want to sound like Oprah or the voice on your self-help tape at night, I just want everyone reading this who's having a bad day, week, year, or whatever, to know that everyone has them. Yes, even the guy who you sit next to in Physics who makes a perfect score on every test, is never late, has great hair, and always brings an extra pencil. But, what you don't know is, he's a compulsive glue sniffer and wears the same socks everyday for good luck. Which is all good and great, as long as it makes him happy. Remember everyone puts on their pants one leg at a time, whether they are long handles or leather lace-ups.

My challenge for the month is for you to find one thing that makes you happy and think back on it every time you are riding a rough surf. For me, it's sitting in a lawn chair with a glass of sweet tea in my hand and CCR on the radio. Sometimes the simplest things can make all the difference.