As I zipped across town to make a meeting, I turned on Audible to consume a few scrumptious chapters of Trees, by Percival Everett. His writing flows like a spirited stream that promises the occasional spray of water into your overheated face. I mean it’s a work of art—a beautifully raw story narrated by a voice akin to Morgan Freeman.
Even so, I quickly abandoned the book because it deserves more than a half-assed listen as I navigated traffic. I switched to Pandora and let Stevie Wonder accompany me down River Watch Pkwy.
I’m a little ashamed to admit that I’ve probably had a total of 12 hours of therapy throughout my entire life. You may be wondering what this has to do with Trees, or Morgan Freeman, or Stevie Wonder.
If you read my book Life Minutes, you are probably disappointed in me—that I never made a real commitment to therapy.
Although I still don’t have a therapist, I have spent decades studying human behavior. And so, I know exactly why I sought entertainment for a 15-minute drive.
I am addicted to distractions. Matter of fact, most of us are.
There was a day when we were forced to face the fears, challenges, and heartache that ooze through our lives. But no more!
Today, we have instant access to limitless distractions that enable us to avoid working out our shit. We have screens that give us doom scrolling, 24/7 news, targeted ads, bingeable series, podcasts, shopping, gaming, and more. Plus, we can pleasure stack by consuming processed foods, caffeine, soda, and booze as we surrender our life minutes to a screen.
We are becoming more toxic, contracted versions of ourselves by avoiding the truth that gurgles deep inside us. The danger is that it’s building up, and if we don’t find a way to let it flow, we will use it to our detriment or take it out on the people we love most.
So, is that a plug for therapy? Obviously not, since I’ve never found a therapist who didn’t make me want to run up a mountain.
Fortunately, I have found another way to release grief and let my joy factor soar.
Art.
Isn’t that just another distraction? Yes. But I choose art to distract me from life because art has the power to make me feel. And isn’t that the point of therapy? Well, then again, I’m not the expert.😉
For me,
Consuming art is:
📖 Reading words I can feel in my throat
🎨Letting colors on a canvas come to life in my heart
🎸Being entranced by a musician making love to his guitar
🌅Inviting the sunrise over the river to breathe energy into my soul
🎭Tearing up as an actor transforms my reality
💃Dancing and singing as if I’m the love child of Prince and Janet Jackson
Art is everywhere, offering us a holiday from heartache.
We simply need to choose it, consume it with absolute abandon.
I bet even the most therapized people still leverage distractions to…..
🎶get through this thing called life🎶 (sorry, couldn’t help it)!
What are you using to distract yourself from thoughts you don’t want to think?
I can think of no better way to distract myself than to nurture my spirit with art.
Next time you want to choose doom-scrolling with a glass of Chardonnay, consider your options.
Choose Art.
Art becomes art, not from the artist, but from the eyes, ears, and souls that consume it.
I hope this Sunday Story made you smile, laugh, and think about how we can change the world.
With love and cheers,
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