bounce your tolerance - life itself edition

I have a hunch about you.  It’s not pretty.  Ready?  You.  Take things.  For granted.  What things?  Try “everything”.  This is one of the most insulting things I can possibly say to you, and yet, it’s almost certainly true.  People like to wallow in their misery, lamenting things they don’t have, and perhaps, will never have.  They rarely realize the insane beauty of every simple element of existence.  So many joys; not a right, but a privilege.  And gorgeous ones at that.  Don’t believe me?  Howsa bout a little test.  We’ll call it taking a dip in the Sensory Deprivation Think Tank.  Give something up.  Something you truly love.  For four days.  And four nights.  Think of it as your own trip into the desert.  Jesus did it for 40 days, 40 nights, you should be able to handle four.  Or maybe not.  Perhaps you’re weaker than I give you credit for.  Nah, you’re good people.  You’re reading TGOC arn’t ya? 

I’ll give you two challenges, to really open your eyes to what I’m talking about.  The first is easy, though it likely won’t seem it.  The second is much, much harder (and infinitely more important).  This one won’t be easy either.  Trust me.

Alright, shall we begin?

First up?  Your most valued vice (MVV).  What’s your fix?  The one thing that truly gets you off.  Wakes you up.  Lets you sleep.  This could be anything from a cigarette to a line of _______.  Perhaps that cookie dough mini-drumstick in the fridge.  Or that first puff off a huge blunt.

It could be coffee.

Meth.

Sex.

Whatever vice gives you the most satisfaction?  The one you can’t possibly imagine going without?  Do.  For four days, and four nights.

Then?  Imbibe.  Completely.  Without regret, hesitation, or a thought.

It will.

Be better.

Than the first time.

The first fifty seven times.

I can remember when I was still writing for Drunken Sherpa, I did a little experiment.

I took one week off.

Of caffeine.

It was hellacious.  My mood?  In the darkest pit of despair.  Every day?  An impossible challenge.

At the end though?  Satisfaction beyond words.  On the eighth day I took 600mg of caffeine, all at once (3x Vivarin as I recall).  It was.  Unreal.  The rush was stronger than Adderall and lasted close to 8 hours.  I was floored.  Enlightened.  Delighted.  Something I’d been taking for granted for years still had the power to surprise me.  Overwhelm me.  Fulfill me.  In ways I couldn’t believe.

Now for the difficult part.  Important.  Divine.  Think you don’t take anything for granted?  Heh heh.  Oh, you do.  If you truly want to comprehend it?  Give up something you’ve been taking for granted since grade school.

Fresh air.  The sunshine.  Being outside.

Take 4 days, and 4 nights (you’ll probably have to do this during vacay from work, unless you work at home), and hunker down.  Inside.  No matter how hard the draw.  No matter what you think you need to do “out there”?  Don’t.

Stay in.

Then?  After four full days.  And four full nights.  Have passed?

Venture out.

Sunshine never burned so good.

Fresh, fragrant air never filled your lungs quite like it should.

As it will.

Right now.

Do this, and you’re bound to realize;  How much.  Of life.  You take.  For granted.

Wake up.

Every day is a gift.

Every breath is a rift.

Between you.

And all the gorgeous things.

You overlook.

Get to work.

Time is short.

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this post is part of a series.  read more here