Happiness by Brettcajun
It is true. I have been in a funk ever since my beauty pageant win and the sixteen and one half minutes of uninterrupted applause. Okay I made that part up. The applause was really more like 10 seconds, but it felt as long as what Suzanne Sugarbaker received for winning Miss Georgia World.I have been nagging myself to death about going talk to someone professionally. But that male pride is getting the best of me. To go talk to someone else about helping me get myself out of a hole is just weak. I am a man for God sakes! Men are supposed to be strong. Who is going to protect the women-folk if the men all need to go to counseling? Okay... scratch that thought. Who is going to protect Boudreaux, Pierre, and Lucky the dog if I can't take care of my own damned self?
Which brings me to my own Happiness plan. Hear me out folks. What if I start doing more of the things that I hate to do? Can you see the genius of it? Maybe just maybe that'll actually push me from the extreme I am trapped in to a happier middle ground. Could this work? Or is this hairbrained?
Just today, I eased my stubborness and linked those
At the gym this morning, instead of starting off my week doing the typical upper body workout... I started with legs. I HATE working out my legs. Sometimes, I go through the whole week or month without doing any leg exercises. I even started the leg workout with the most hated 345# leg plate press. The few times I do work my legs, I avoid this machine the most.
After work, I am going back to the gym to do something I hate the most... non-sports related cardio. Yep. That's right. I am going to do the boring old treadmill next to Peggy Sue and her thunderous thighs. Yee Haw.
Will this finding-happiness-by-doing-things-you-hate-to-do-strategy work? Wish me luck!
posted by Brettcajun at Tuesday, September 19, 2006
17 Comments:
Mixing things up is good in your life. But again the real issues in your life need to be found, sorted through, and prioritized. Then and only then, by beginning to work on the most important, can you perhaps begin to find some peace and happiness in your life...what you really desire in life.
DON'T BE ASHAMED TO SEE SOMEONE PROFESSIONALLY if it is going ot ultimately pinpoint what it is you really desire in life. PRIDE can steal away so much of your precious life. I know. Some of my life has been that way.
Brett,
Get over you manhood issues! If seeing someone will help, then by all means, I will send you the quarter to make the call. Some very dear friends of mine have gone through personal issues in the past and without the help of some 'professionals', they never would have made it through.
This does not make you less of a man...if anything, it makes you more of a man because you are dealing with something head on...not pussy-footing around waiting for things to happen in time!
Just think of the happiness that is waiting just around the corner once you can sort through some of this crap that makes you batshit crazy! Friends can all give you advice, but you need to listen to your inner self...and if you are thinking or pondering the possiblility of seeing someone, then your inner self is already helping you make that choice.
Best of luck in whatever you choose to do.
And anytime you need it, you know I will personally give you that 16 and one half minutes of uninterrupted applause...just becuase you are you and that is the person I care about.
Brett - I guarantee you that a good 75% of the people who are reading your blog on a regular basis are seeing someone professionally - and another 75% of us subscribe to the "better living through chemistry" concept... don't let foolish pride rob you of the wonderful life that is out there waiting for you... you deserve it - go get it!
Hey man,
Speaking as a beauty pageant winner myself here in NYC. I know from where you speak. As you already know, the applause part is short lived. Wait till you get to the part where you become a petting zoo for the undesireables in bars & events. I made my own rule, no touching below the belt. And I stuck to it. I don't know what is dragging you down; but I was always taught "you know in your heart." But enough about titles and sashes. We can compare notes another time.
As for seeking out therapy. I say go ahead and do it. I personally have been toying with the idea for years now. I come from a strong New England family where "we don't show our weaknesses, we're better than that" attitude was drilled into my sisters and myself. I figure with the childhood I've had I could rival Sybil. But when I asked for psycological help at a young age I was told "we don't do that." So today, I don't do that. Inside my head I know this isn't the truth, but I can't help but feel that "suck up and deal with it" is the best anyone will ever get. Isn't it? Either we're strong on the inside or we're not. And no amount of "paid listening" is going to alter that. Sometimes I wonder if all we really desire is some sort of validation for our lives, dreams, arguments and feelings. Other times I don't know if I can bear the weight I carry in my heart. I know for sure I should never raise a child, but other than that; I'm just tumbeling through life and trying not to get injured.
Go seek help if you need it.
Brett, you got so much going for you. Go do something good for someone less fortunate than youself. The more you give the more you get. You will get a great feeling and you won't have to worry about yourself. Yeah, doesn't this sound like a daddy talking... well, I am
You know when I talk like that, my friends always say "you need a hobby". Sarcasm is intended. :)
LUCK!
Go see someone cuase if you keep hiding from your issues they will get bigger and harder to hide. One day you won't be able to and then you will be talking to someone. Trust me do it sooner rather than later. It's all confidential and you will feel so much better....
i'd say get profesional help... there are things so close that you aren't able to see them and a good therapist would... good luck... and i agree, help the less fortunate... it does wonders for me when i volunteer...
two s's in professional... oops...
The comment about "go do something for someone less fortunate than yourself" is very good advice.
I've always found the key to happiness is not in having the things you want, but wanting the things you have. Get rid of the things in your life that you have that you don't want, and love the rest.
You're an able-bodied young man. The paper the other day had a story about the number of flooded houses still awaiting gutting in New Orleans because of a lack of volunteers. Go help gut some 80-year old great-grandmother's house where she lost an entire lifetime of memories in one awful day, and I think your perspective will change mighty fast.
Call me I can recommend a good professional. Derbysempire
I appreciate all of your sentiments. I DO have real issues that have been holding me back from true happiness and being a better person. I know I must often sound "spoiled" to be worried about my trivial life. But, my life is important to ME. I want to be a better person and be in a better place. I never said I was the most pitiful person and in most desperate need on Earth. I just want to get over some major issues in my life that have haunted me still to this day.
Well, my recent view is that guys that are afraid to talk over their own issues - at least with a therapist who's job it *is* to listen - is a coward.
Imagine! Being afraid to talk. It's not like you have to go beat up a lion or something, sheesh!
Ha! See?!?
Now you have to schedule an appointment cause otherwise yur a big pussy =)
Hope that helps ;)
Good luck! My guess is you'll figure it all out.
"Men are supposed to be strong."
That's a bunch of Scandinavian bullshit. You're Cajun, so you're not bound to such rules.
Consider a head doctor like taking your car in for regular oil and air filter changes - it's good for you. Counselors give perspective that you haven't thought about before. I highly recommend them.
And I'll add yer blog when I get around to it. Sometimes links are not added simply because we are busy...
When you start having those 'its time to see someone' conversations with yourself, it is. Its perfectly ordinary these days.
Changinup the temporal sequence of the workout is much like stepping on the accelaerator with the clutch disengaged.
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