The one and only.

I have to adjust. To the world that I find myself in. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. All my life. Adjust. Adjust. Adjust. I have no other choice. Other than to kill myself. To opt out of the world. And I don’t want to do that. Therefore, I adjust. Like it or not. So far. I’ve been able to pretend, at the very least. That I’m in love with life. By writing about it. By making declarations. That things ain’t so bad. For me. If not for the world around me. Oh, sure, I’d like to change the world. But I acknowledge. That I can’t do that. I can only change my approach. To happiness. Turns out. That’s all I want out of life. Happiness. As long as I can remain reasonably happy. That’s sufficient. I wish for other people to be happy, too. But that’s mostly beyond my control. I can make some of my friends and intimates happy. By my actions. But sometimes, I make them more distraught than happy. I look at the situation philosophically. I can do only so much. For others. That shouldn’t stifle me or send me into the doldrums.  Instead. I should be happy and vibrant. Just being Jim Broede. The one and only. --Jim Broede

Does truth matter anymore?

Why should I be required to tell the truth? When the president lies multiple times. Every day. And gets away with it. Largely, because that’s his nature. It’s an accepted and expected part of Donald Trump. His supporters aren’t bothered by it. Maybe they believe his lies. Because they don’t know truth from fiction. Of course, I’m not fooled by his brazen lies. Instead, I’m baffled. That we Americans allow him to get away with the lies. When we know, beyond a doubt, that he’s full of BS. What does that say about us? And about the state of our politics? Makes me wonder. If truth matters anymore. --Jim Broede

Keep guessing, please.

I like to keep people guessing. About whether I’m being serious. Or merely joking. It’s one of my favorite pastimes. Thing is. I often don’t know myself.  I’m caught in the middle. Trying to decide. Whether to fall to the right or the left. That’s often the nature of life. I take a position. Without really knowing whether I believe it.  I’m testing the waters. Before I jump in. And become totally immersed. It can be a little like falling in love. Whether to do it all at once. At first glance. Or space it out. Over an indefinite period. I recognize that’s the way it is. When feeling one’s way through life. I don’t hesitate to do crazy things. No. No. I’m not really crazy.  It’s more a case of how I’m perceived. By crazy people. I often declare that I’m the sane one. Everybody else has gone bonkers.  Keep guessing, please. About whether or not I’m telling the truth. --Jim Broede