It can be extremely difficult to work through the trials of our lives; and the difficulty is magnified everytime someone else suggests that the only obstacle is yourself. Those who would have us believe that life is easy if we have the right attitude, or if we simply remove the roadblocks we have set up for ourselves probably do not understand that sometimes things are just hard. Sometimes there is no simple solution, and regardless of how we try to change our attitude or perspective, life will still be difficult. Those who understand this also understand that helping ourselves is not easy and there are bleak days that do not seem to end. Fortunately, there are bright days that hang in the balance.

Although I constantly fight it, I have come to realize the insignificant nature of my existence. Unfortunately, this is not some grand metaphysical realization that will lead to transcendence, nor is it the throwing off of material desire. It is simple insignificance. What people want is more of themselves. My life. My thoughts and ideas. My interpersonal connection to another human being is not what anyone wants. People want their own lives justified on their own terms, in relationship to their words and actions.
I am of no use to them.
I am insignificant in the most direct sense of the word.  

I drink, therefore I am.

Open a book, even if it only has pictures in it.  3/29/00

Don’t quit everything all at once.  Quit them little by little, one year at a time so that the change is neither terribly traumatic, nor terribly noticeable. 3/29/00

I’m human enough to have these thoughts and stupid enough to admit it. 3/27/00

Drinking champagne is like drinking a shot of bad Holloween candy. 3/18/00

Drinking champagne is like drinking a shot of bad Holloween candy. 3/18/00

Today, the impossible is possible; but the future is still not what you might think. 3/18/00

A society should pride itself on the individual mode of expression that focuses on the common good.  To impose conformity- especially in the name of the common good- in any form is the essence of tyranny. 3/17/01

It is one thing to show the path.  It is entirely something else to show someone how to walk it.  3/17/01

There is no reason that one should be forced to suffer societal degradation simply because their American Dream does not coincide with your American Dream. 3/11/01

Why does one need to move to the suburbs to prove some meager success? 3/10/01

Just when I started to get comfortable, they kick me out.  3/8/01

Meanwhile has brought everything to a halt.  2/25/02

Very little can be accomplished without discipline.  Without it, all success is merely random chance and therefore worthy of nothing more than an acknowledgement that it happened, not an acknowledgement that it was made to happen.  2/15/00

The challenge is just the beginning.  2/15/00

Do something to give those around you a better life.  2/15/00