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The Uncomfortable Train

This year I have been forced to take a long voyage on the uncomfortable train.

This might sound like a bad thing but circumstances have arisen in my life this year that have forced me to reacquaint myself with the philosophies of Stoicism, Zen, and Taoism.

There have been many examples this year when I haven’t been able to get disability supports when I needed them. This has forced me to spend many hours in an uncomfortable condition.

To prevent me from bursting a blood vessel in frustration I had to go back to my favourite Stoics and remind myself things could always be worse.

I was also able to let go, thanks to the Taoist philosophy of Wu Wei which simply put is 'going with the flow'.

Like the Spartans my disability has taught me how to handle painful conditions and I needed to remind myself of these philosophies in order to rebuild my mental fortress and sit with uncomfortable.

Since 2016 the world has been in an uncomfortable state. This has recently been brought into sharp focus with the new movie 'Joker'. The 'Joker' movie is no joke and mental health is not a comic book villain. While I agree with the majority of critics and believe Joaquin Phoenix deserves the Best Actor Oscar, I strongly disagree with the fact that this movie supposedly signals the end of the social justice warrior. In my opinion, it is proof that we need more social justice warriors and so called woke critics.

It is true it is an uncomfortable movie but as I have learned this year life can be uncomfortable. So let’s try not to derail society and let’s stay on board the uncomfortable train.



Uncomfortable Train

Life is a high speed uncomfortable train.
If you don’t know how to apply the brakes it can send you insane.
We must be aware of each level crossing
And know who it is we are bossing.
We must take care not to get our signals crossed
Or our society is lost.

I have spent many a day on the uncomfortable train
With my only companion indescribable pain. 
Sometimes I feel like I’m in a car without a conductor
Because when I call for help from those who are supposed to care there is no one there. 

Sometimes I wish I could walk or fly a plane. 
Anything to get off this uncomfortable train. 

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