Rule #8

Rule: “Just Walk Away”

Rule Maker: Jason Wright after many thrown weed whakers, Ikea furniture and other uncooperative objects put on this earth to destroy my happiness.

Learn More About the Rule: Frank Costanza

I’m so frustrated right now. Literally, I’m ready to throw my Macbook across the room. Why am I even trying to get these audio files off my H6 recorder for my Podcast? No one is going to listen to my Podcast? However, I did the interviews so I owe it to my guests to actually go through with it. I’ve told several people I’m starting a Podcast. I have to follow through. But no one is going to listen. Why can’t I be thinner? Why don’t I make more money? Why does Ryan Reynolds never respond to my DM’s on Insta? I can’t stand my stupid car. I should have been a lawyer. The spiral continues…..

Finally, in what might be the last sliver of sanity for the moment I get up and walk away. Within 2 minutes the spiral starts to slow. It’s Saturday. I’m able to spend all day with my beloved fiancé at her store, Haute Totz (www.hautetotz.com). I don’t have to have the files moved right this minute. In fact I’m under no deadline. It’s not like any of you are out there saying, “Man where is that Podcast Jason Wright should be starting. That’s what I want. I want a Podcast from Jason, and I want it now!” If you are, you’re just weird. I love you for it, but you’re out there.

Have you ever noticed that a seemingly “hangnail” problem can quickly spiral into a near meltdown? One little frustration immediately causes a flood of every bad decision we’ve ever made. Self doubt comes marching in. All of the sudden life has take a dark catastrophic turn. I hate moments like this. I’m terrible in these moments.

I’ve learned the single best way to deal with them is to force myself to simply walk away for a moment. My daughters like to tell the story of looking out the window into our backyard when they were much younger. It was a picturesque scene complete with tall Oleander, plush green Saint Augustine grass, a large pine tree, birds fluttering about and then across the window a flat spinning weed eater finding its way into the fence. Dad was working on the lawn tools again.

We Wrights have a nasty habit of taking out our frustrations on uncooperative mechanical devices. Now that I’m a little older I realize sometimes when you’re losing the battle for sanity the best thing to do is just get up and walk away. Take a deep breath. It brings everything into perspective. I’ve tried the Frank Costanza mantra of just chanting “serenity now.” However, serenity never comes and like Lloyd Braun so astutely noted eventually it all builds up and you explode. If you don’t get the Seinfeld reference, it means you’re most likely too young. If that’s the case here’s a virtual bear hug. Thank you for reading this old dude’s blog youngster.

Don’t throw a weed whacker. Don’t throw a MacBook. Instead make a rule to just walk away. If an argument is brewing, walk away for a moment. Catch your breath. Look at the issue from a higher position. You’ll be glad you did.

Oh, and it turns out I just had the wrong USB cable. When I got home the files were transferred inside of 5 minutes. Stay tuned for the Podcast..

Thanks for reading. You rule!

Jason