A little lull in the professional sports seasons sends me into my musical mind, so lately I have been pondering.

If you ask anyone close to me, they could tell you I’ve never been the calmest man in the world. (I’ll give all of you who know me a couple seconds to react to that statement.)

I have trouble with my emotions a lot. I overreact in many situations when I need to be calm. I try and try, but have not found that button to push, or that switch to flip, that will allow me to relax first and think about what is bothering me, before just getting upset. Funny thing though, I think I am pretty good at trying to teach others how to weigh situations before reacting, and did that a lot in teaching and coaching kids. I’m just not a good enough teacher/coach to convince me to take my own advice, and use it in my life. (Do as I say, not as I do?)

One thing that helps me, at least, stop and think at times, are song lyrics that often I think were written specifically for me, and one of the greatest songwriters and story tellers, in my mind, is Jimmy Buffett. I know you have heard this numerous times from the VFTB, and will probably hear it many more times moving forward, but I think his words were written to speak to many, including me.

If you ever listen to fans of Jimmy Buffett (shout out to my Fellow Parrotheads), you will often hear many of them say what I just said, that they feel his lyrics were written specifically for them. He seems to have a knack for talking to every individual personally with so many songs he sings, even while in a crowd of thousands of people. There are so many of his songs that many people can relate to in their day to day life, one in particular one titled, Breathe In, Breathe, Out, Move On.

The first set of lyrics in this song are:

“I bought a cheap watch from a crazy man

Floating down canal

It doesn’t use numbers or moving hands

It always just says now

Now you may be thinking that I was had

But this watch is never wrong

And if I have trouble, the warranty said

Breathe in, breathe out, move on”

The next part of the song sings of things that could range from small things to catastrophic things, but they are things that have happened before and will probably happen again. He follows that part of the song with this next set of thoughts to ponder:

“If a hurricane doesn’t leave you dead

It will make you strong

Don’t try to explain it, just nod your head

Breathe in, breathe out, move on”

He again follows up those lyrics with things that have happened before and though some might be destructive in nature, many of us have experienced and learned to deal with those and move forward. The last part of the song’s lyrics speak to us with a way to stop trying to figure out why things happen, but instead, realizing when to deal with them, how to accept them, and how to get past them and move forward.

“According to my watch, the time is now

Past is dead and gone

Don’t try to shake it, just nod your head

Breathe in, breathe out, move on

Don’t try to explain it, just bow your head

Breathe in, breathe out, move on”

As I said, I have trouble following a lot of advice, that I really wish I could follow better, but it doesn’t stop me from sharing it with anyone who might be able to benefit from some very sound advice, and though I do try, but many times fail, I will not stop trying to look at a situation that may cause anger, or distress, or frustration, and before reacting first, stop and remember to breathe in, breathe out, then move on. (Maybe then it can be do as I do, not just as I say!) This is in no way a resolution, or a promise, both of those which can be broken. It is more a hope, that, as I begin a new decade of my life in a couple months, I’ll be able to follow these lyrics and cleanse myself of some of the anger, distress, and frustration I let get the better of me.

A side note to this narrative: On my left arm, just above my wrist, close to where I put on my watch each day, is the tattoo of a Parrot wearing a Pirate hat pointing to the words, Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On. As I close this narrative, I pray I can heed these words more often as time moves forward for me.

And as a post script to this piece, I dedicate this one to my bride, Sally, who has so often reminded me to inhale, and exhale, and then go on, when situations arise that irritate me. Thank you, Sal. I’ll keep trying, I promise.