There are times when my sense of direction in life suddenly evades me, and I’m left wondering just what I’m doing with myself.

Thankfully, those times don’t come along as frequently as they once did; but when they do, it can come in the form of overwhelming disillusion with life and even the occasional — but not unprecedented — crippling depression.

Maybe this isn’t a unique thing. For all I know I’ve just described everyone reading this column, or a vast majority of the world’s population. I do, however, realize that everyone struggles with their own demons from time to time. And from what I’ve witnessed in those who are brave (or uninhibited) enough to openly share their struggles, the most impressive thing to come out of it all is that many of us are superb actors.

Seriously. How many times can you say you’ve approached a friend or acquaintance, asked “How’s it going?” out of some inclination to make polite smalltalk and received a candid reply like, “Absolutely awful” or “I’m just miserable”? I’d be willing to bet those times are few and far between, and even farther when the tables are turned.

I’ve recently made some personal revelations and established some kind of footing upon some previously unrealized principles that I’ve come to adhere fairly strictly to. Without going into vivid, or perhaps superfluous, detail I’ll just boil it down to my belief in the notion that complete contentment and mastery over one’s perception of reality begins with the mastery of one’s self.

One of the things that’s been of the biggest comfort to me is accepting the illusion of reality as we see it as just that: an illusion. And subsequently, the portions of that illusion with which I have the most immediate impact — i.e. myself, my interactions and reactions — are wholly within my own control. In short, I am able to impress my will outwardly with loving intent and receive that love back in time and in unique ways.

In this way, life is no longer happening around and to me, but through me. This mindset has also helped me in facing some of my social and personal anxieties that, up until these past few months, would cause me to hesitate or, in some cases, altogether abandon certain actions or tasks that I would otherwise have undertaken without a second thought.

For as long as I can remember I feel like I’m being watched by practically everyone when I’m out in a public place. Whether or not that’s the case — although I can believably assume it’s the latter — I’m now working on developing the courage to act freely in spite of it all, clinging to the belief that we, as humans, are all one and that I should have nothing to innately fear from my fellow man in the minutiae of daily life.

All this to say life still has its ebbs and flows, and my motivation rises and falls with them, but all in all I feel better equipped to face the world when I wake up in the morning. Sure, my confidence still takes hits from time to time, but I’d much rather go about life with a self-assured, maybe slightly irreverent, attitude than letting real or perceived fears keep me back from reaching my full potential.

Before I go, as promised, here’s the Cold Lazarus album update. More progress has been made on tracking the rhythm guitar. In this area, all but one track that we’ve thus far recorded as an ensemble have been completed. By the time this column runs we should hopefully have recorded the two remaining songs that we’ve yet to take to the studio and (hopefully!) entirely completed at least the drums — potentially bass, as well.

From there, all that will be left is to finish rhythm guitar on the three remaining tracks, and follow that with tracking lead guitar, keys and synth and, finally, vocals. Then the mixing and mastering. Maybe, fingers crossed, we’ll have this thing done by the end of October.

But I make no guarantees.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Brazil To Open Mark Kirsch Photography Exhibit Saturday: Brazil Craft Beer and Wine Lounge will hold an opening reception for an exhibit featuring the photography of local art and photography teacher and professor Mark Kirsch from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday. The exhibit is entitled “Walking the 716″and features an array of street photography taken within Western New York by Kirsch, who specializes in film photography and alternative print techniques. Snacks will be offered and Brazil’s full dinner menu will be available for purchase, along with the usual full compliment of craft beers and wines.

TRC To Present Sprout Film Festival At Reg Lenna Saturday: The Resource Center will present the annual Sprout Film Festival at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts on Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Sprout Film Festival’s mission is to inspire audiences, promote inclusion and support transformative filmmaking as an integral part of social change.

TRC To Present Sprout Film Festival At Reg Lenna Saturday (continued): This unique event, which focuses exclusively on films that celebrate the diverse lives and creativity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), strives to challenge assumptions and breakdown stereotypes. By introducing powerful, thought-provoking films from around the world to new and ever-more inclusive audiences, we hope to promote greater acceptance, celebrate difference and light the spark to help make the invisible, visible. The Sprout Film Festival was founded in 2003 and is programmed and supported by Sprout, a New York City based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing innovative programming to individuals with I/DD.

Admission to the Sprout Film Festival is free and no ticket is required. For more information, call 484-7070, visit reglenna.com/events/sprout-film-festival or find the event on Facebook.

Second Annual Pizza And Wing Festival Is Saturday: The second annual Pizza and Wing Festival, presented by the Media One Group and Northwest Arena, is coming to the arena Saturday from noon-5 p.m. This family-friendly event will feature the Southern Tier’s finest pizza and chicken wings, as well as local business vendors, beer garden, prizes, a live DJ and kid’s activities. Attendees can expect to enjoy pizza and chicken wings from Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, Robo Enterprises Inc., Game Time Bar & Grill, Lena’s, Rudy’z Pizza, The Swamp, The Office, Marco’s Pizza, Andriaccio’s, Pace’s Pizzeria, and Northwest Arena. This year’s beer garden will have several options for beer, including festive favorites from Southern Tier Brewing Company, as well as wine slushies from Merritt Estate Winery. The 2017 Pizza and Wing Festival will also feature a Kid Zone to keep young ones occupied for the duration of the event. The Kid Zone will be equipped with snacks, video games, movies, face painting, Balloon Man Gary Mooney, and more.

Admission to the 2017 Pizza and Wing Festival is $5 per person, but is free to children 12 and under. Once inside, pizza slices and wings will be $1 each. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting the arena’s Landmark Chevrolet Box Office at 484-2624 or online at northwestarena.com.

Reg Lenna To Present ‘Naughty’ Cabaret Show Sunday: Reg Lenna Center for The Arts is inviting audiences to an afternoon of New York City-style cabaret Sunday at 2 p.m., when stage and screen veteran Pamela Shaw performs “Naughty.” Fresh from her run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s 70th Anniversary year, the cabaret performer launches her spirited child from within in this live performance. Bringing a sassy irreverence to The Reg stage, this wicked and funny new show — whose title comes from Tim Minchin’s song from the Broadway musical Matilda — includes a variety of songs by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Rickie Lee Jones and Amanda McBroom fused together with pop, blues and contemporary Broadway. Joining Pamela onstage will be Ian Herman on keys. This performance of “Naughty” will serve as a preview for an eventual run in New York City.

In a departure from the usual seating arrangement during live performances, the audience will be seated onstage with the performers in a recreation of a small cabaret. Brunch lovers will be able to purchase beer and wine cocktails stageside including mimosas, cheladas and festive fall ciders.

Admission to “Naughty” is $20. For more information visit reglenna.com or call 484-7070. The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts is located at 116 E. 3rd St. in Jamestown. The box office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Authors Books And Music To Hold Open Read Night Tuesday: Authors Books and Music — located at 227 Liberty St. in Warren, Pa. — is inviting aspiring writers, poets, lyricists and others to read their works before a live audience at its monthly open read night Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Listeners are also encouraged to attend this free event held inside the book shop.

For more information, call 814-688-3009, email authorsbooks@hotmail.com or visit authorsbookstore.com.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Dave and Duane Keogh: 5 p.m., Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

The Karl-Marks Duo (it’s revolutionary!): 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Comedy open mic: 8 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

DJ Karaoke: 8 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

Jamie Smith: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Steve Strickland Duo: 8 p.m., Frewsburg American Legion, 9 Meadow Lane in Frewsburg

Flossie and the Gunslingers: 8 p.m., Cronie’s Pub, 701 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in Warren, Pa.

Karaoke: 8 p.m., Vietnam Veterans of America, 41 Bigelow Ave. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 9 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Ion Sky: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Saturday

Adam McKillip: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Tyler Smilo: 6:30 p.m., Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

Karate Sleepover: 7 p.m., Ellington Fire Department, 801 Main St. in Ellington

Swamp Yankees: 8 p.m., Busti Tap House, Busti-Sugar Grove Road in Busti

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

No Limit: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Smokin’ 45: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Sunday

Stray Kat Karaoke: 4:30 p.m., The Vegas Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

“It Comes at Night” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Telekenetic Yeti with Blood Feud: 9 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown