Posts Tagged ‘appreciate

03
May
25

Cooler Guy

Storming outside right now. I love a good Thunderstorm. I miss the warm nights in Iowa when it would lightening for hours before the actual storm showed up. The calm before the storm is the phrase that is clearly fitting. We would be sitting in a garage somewhere drinking ice cold Busch Lights in koozies watching the sky light up over and over. Every once in a while we’d yell “Damn that was a good one” and then take a big chug while motioning to Verno to get off the cooler and throw me another. No matter how many chairs we had, Vern was always sitting on the cooler.

Those organic random moments just happen in life and it is hard to appreciate them while they are actually occurring. In fact it is pretty much impossible for a lot of people to appreciate them at all. They are infatuated with being let down, unhappy, and victimized. Some people might laugh at a few buddies sitting around drinking beer in a garage for hours waiting on a storm to roll thru, but they are idiots. Just so you know. This blog is for you geniuses sitting in the garage with a beer in your hand. I salute you! The little things in life are what make it so much fun and learning to appreciate them is the key to having a good time while you’re here.

Flicking cigarette butts passed Bucky’s head (You know who you are) in a tool shed, watching Blayne suck a snack pack bone dry without a spoon, or just meeting up on a gravel road somewhere randomly on a hot summer night are magical memories. I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back I’m so thankful for those moments. I couldn’t tell you what we talked about, who was all there, and I probably was sworn to secrecy anyway. The point is I didn’t complain about it not being enough. I’ve never been one to bitch about what I had right now.

Of course I would like more. I would love to ride in a private jet. I’d love to drive a Lamborghini one day or have a friend pick me up in Rolls Royce for lunch, but those things aren’t important. The important things are simply enjoying the day. Today. Enjoy today. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Would you want to be sitting at the gates of Heaven (or Hell if you’re a jerk) thinking about how you wasted so many days feeling sorry for yourself just because you didn’t have the car you wanted?? You can want better things and should want them because it will fuel the fire in you to make yourself better, smarter, and able to achieve those goals.

The key is to not let it consume you. Being happy with what you have and who you are today is okay. Enjoy the lightening before the storm, the calm moments, and the random good that comes upon you. Want more, but remember to appreciate what you have right now.

FknBucky

30
May
21

Memorial Day

Life is pretty awesome when you allow it to be. We live in America (most of us as I have some very distant readers) which is the greatest country in the world. Mainly because I’m here. There are a lot of people, millions of people in fact, that we will never get to know. They are impossible to meet. They laid their lives down to protect future generations in this country. In my opinion you owe them the respect to understand exactly how big that price was they paid. I love reading history. There is so much we didn’t learn in high school or college. Simply posting a photo on social media of a widow at a gravestone is not showing the respect all of those fallen soldiers deserve. You are free to stand on a street corner and yell “America Sucks”, “America is racist”, or “America is the devil” because of brave men and women you will never meet.

This country isn’t perfect, but no where is. Simply look at where we used to be compared to where we are now. Eventually we get it right, but it never happens overnight. I say this A LOT because it is true. You can’t HATE something or someone into changing. You can love someone so much they have no choice to trust you and learn from you. You take the most racist white power asshole out there and when you scream HATE at him/her you only fuel that hatred. Set that same person down with a black person that only shows love and compassion to them for a real conversation. That changes things. Even the biggest of ignorance can not ignore that all those feelings of hate are based in fantasy land.

Being wrong is okay. It is okay as long as when reality slaps you in the face, you learn the lesson and change your heart. On this Memorial Day weekend please take the time to understand the freedoms we enjoy 365 days a years did not come cheap. America isn’t perfect, but we have the freedom to change. We have the freedom to lead by example. We have the freedom to chase our dreams. Ignorance, evil, and just crap people are never going away. No matter how many laws you make, catchy slogans you come up with, or how many people you hate for good these type of people will always be there. Learn to identify them and then forget about them.

On another note I wanted to share a cool story. Years ago on Memorial Day I wanted to honor those that gave up all for my freedoms so I drove to Balboa Park in San Diego. Awesome place by the way. They have numerous museums for this and that. I had no plan and just went. I ended up at a military museum that honored some remarkable people who did extraordinary things when the need arose. I am fascinated at the strength some people have in the hardest of situations. Without a doubt stories like this help me daily to deal with my own challenges. Remember people don’t judge you on the problems you face, but they do form opinions about you from the attitude and strength you have facing those problems.

I was in this museum for about 15 minutes when some guy came up and asked if I wanted to meet “Gunny”?? I had no idea what the heck he was talking about, but of course I said yes. He took me into the back room where all the drugs were. Wait wrong story. When the door opened I rolled thru it and there he was. R Lee Emny. Mr Full Metal Jacket himself. I thought well this is a cool surprise. Turns out he was there as a spokesman for WD-40 to give a check to some Veteran charity. I believe it was Wounded Warrior Foundation, but not 100% on that. Point is I had no idea, but I was able to talk with him for almost an hour in that back waiting area.

He was awesome and had some great stories to share. Fun how sometimes things just happen. The world is a pretty amazing place full of incredible people. Take the time to learn from individuals outside of your circle. As we get older our circles seem to get smaller. My favorite thing in the world is talking to people from somewhere I know nothing about. I didn’t even know Estonia was a country until I met a girl from there. I think it is in Australia. Ha.

Use this day to show respect and appreciation to those that gave their lives for an idea of freedom. Learn their stories, teach those that look up to you to have respect, and mostly simply lead by example.

Get your FknBucky shirt ordered! I appreciate you all.

FknBucky

Read * Think * Live Free




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