I had an email from a former workmate who disclosed a "dread of the meaninglessness of it all." I wrote back:

No-No, mon ami, you must not dread the meaninglessness; you must embrace the meaninglessness of your workplace plans, schemes and deeds.

Our work lives and so-called accomplishments are worth nada. Our career successes are nothing more than footsteps in the sand, soon obliterated and forgotton by the next wave or at longest, the next high tide.

The only real joy of life is the sensation of utter freedom. (I believe that this is why humans crave Art - because it records those moments of unfettered creative expression. ) Isn't that why people get addicted to drugs, as well?

Those of us who must toil for a living must make the best of those truly meaningless tasks that Caesar demands. A well-developed sense of humor is a gift of perspective, which serves us well.

When I was younger, I consumed large quantities of alcohol to sooth my aching soul. Now I am older, with a more delicate liver. These days, I choose to imagine myself gathering material for a great humorous work of Literature. Nothing bothers me, because I now have the perspective to see that - whatever the idiocy - it simply is not important.

Still, one must avoid assholes, as they tend to piss one off. The resulting Rage clouds the thinking mechanism.

Your mentor,

DN