Time Out

A Long Look Back

I was going to wait until September to write this latest blog, but the spirit moved me to Dark Shadows comic so now, and who am I to stop the muse? I was looking back through the years the other day after a radio interview. The host threw me a few curve balls, asking about my childhood and I had to relive some memories that att conference call not been dusted off in decades. The record mode was on so what came out went direct to disc. A scary thought when one is talking, listening to yourself talking, listening to the host talking, and thinking about what to say next. Thats multi-tasking! I began to think about Arkansas Lemon Laws we naturally alter events of the past and pondered why. The past is wrapped up in time spent, inalterable.

I think to use the Irish word, blarney, comes forth as an aid to shield us from the failures, regrets, and disappointments of those times. Frankly, as long as it doesnt extend into psychotic behavior, its okay to regret, its okay to realize we screwed up. It means we grew up, we finally have taken responsibility for our own inadequacies and stopped blaming our parents (some long gone), our ex-wives and husbands, our teachers, and anybody else within a finger pointing radius. We have finally looked at the enemies of our dreams and they is us.

The old days were certainly not the good old days for many, we just look back at the best of times. Perhaps if we really looked at our stupidity and mistakes our egos will come back into check and we can come to the understanding that the choices we made have dictated our present situation, be it good or bad. Experience is what is left of your butt after life takes chunks out of it. Luck is residue of design-Branch Rickey You make your own game when you go after something with passion. Youre going to screw up, youre going to fail. From that failure your character will develop.

Either you pick yourself up and keep fighting or you walk away with the loss. Either way is okay. Just remember the lessons of the struggle the next time you choose a goal or dream to come true. Its not impossible, it just very difficult, to be happy with ones self. The next time you hear someone telling you they have a lifetime of experience to justify what they are doing now, beware. They are looking to the past to justify the insecurities of the present. Theres bitterness where there should be confidence, theres the warning sign. Its just another layer to be comfortably numb. Its not about the past, it is about now. Right now. Get rid of bitterness, get a life and live it!

Now to a pet peeve of mine. The 60s and 70s begat the Us generation, that begat the 80s Me generation that begat the 90s Me Too generation, that now begets the 2000s-The Me Only generation. For the first time in human history the new parents of this current generation will not, whether it is out of choice or situation, make a better economic life for Ants in the Pants children in the future. One could blame it on Wal-Mart, or just a lack of caring. Thats is a very intense controversial accusation and I make it challengingly. To get anyone in their twenties off their keyboard to physically do anything to make their themselves heard has rarely occurred. To get involved in their own future and the future of their children is too much trouble if they cant get it on You Tube or email. The sacrifices of the preceding generations have given the future generations the technology to be complacent and self-centered.

I have no children as a choice, but that doesnt stop me from making myself heard for future generations. Those critical of my generation have their ammunition. The boomer generation may be trying to desperately keep its youth with plastic surgery, life-extension, and other things to keep them virile and feel a part of this life regardless of age. At least they are well read enough to know not to go into the night quietly- to rage against the darkness. Better a rage then a lamb with a keyboard.

Nick Oliva (O-lee-va) has been a musician, composer, photographer, an audio engineer, an Entertainment Director and Technical Director for over twenty-five years and is a successful self-made money manager. Website: View my blog and buy my latest book at www.onlymomentsbook.comhttp://www.onlymomentsbook.com