After 17 years, I have pulled the plug on my website. I will keep this blog running for a while. The last book I published was in 2014 and admittedly, I haven't felt any of the 10 or so stories after that are worth publishing. There is one I have been tinkering with for a long time, but it deserves to be told in a different format. I simply haven't figured that part out.
Plus, things in my life have recently changed and closing the website was a good thing. Plus, I can always start one back up if need be. For now, this blog will serve my purposes. I'll continue to add the videos from here to the YouTube playlist I have running.
I am reevaluating my life and projects I'd like to do. A shift is going on and I am looking forward to the future. Writing will remain part of my journey, that will never end but I believe I am starting to find my new purpose and I owe it to myself to give it a try. I even splurged to buy a new laptop. Not that the one I'm on is bad but it's pushing 9 years old.
I am halfway through Aldo Kane's book and recently watched a show "Artic Ascent with Alex Hannold" where Aldo provided safety for the team as they went to Greenland to climb a cliff and gather scientific data. Not a whole lot of Aldo but I always appreciate his uplifting spirit even when things are sketchy. There's something about him, that you know if you ask for a hug, it's going to be the best hug you ever received. I dig Aldo's energy. I could soak it up all day. It's that type of energy that helps me keep my depression away for a bit. I feel good. If watching him on TV can do that, I can only imagine what it would be like in person.
I'm not a big people person. Large crowds make me nervous, and I don't like the cramped space. It's one of the reasons why I love grocery shopping at 7am. There is hardly anyone in the store and I can spend time reading labels without someone coming right up on me. I'm not skittish but I hate people just squishing right next to me. My reaction is "I don't know you, get the hell away from me". I never say it out loud but most certainly think it.
Small groups of people are good. I simply struggle with people in general. I suck at small talk and due to my quiet nature, I'm not a life of the party kind of person. I'm the observer in the corner. Which at times is a good thing.
I hope all of you are doing well and can enjoy some quite time while grocery shopping and yes, go ahead and buy the pint of black raspberry ice cream. Everyone deserves a treat.
Your musical treat for today is Lionel Richie's 1982 hit You Are.
Rock on!
~Maynard