A Little Bit Stronger

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself. I think I even enjoy my wee pity parties. And it's not like I don't have good reason to.

I spent the past eight years mostly in surgeries, of one kind or another, or recovering from surgeries. In the process I gained weight. A lot of weight. And it's become much harder to take it off than it was to put it on.

I also incurred a huge amount of debt, became unemployed, and largely unemployable. I lost several people I cared about during this time too. By that I mean, they died.

So when I should be thinking about winding things down toward retirement--buying a home someplace near a golf course, where it's warm year round--I am instead back in college: struggling to keep up with the reading and writing assignments, and with the other students--who are a good thirty years younger than I am--and battling the prejudices of people who don't think I belong here.

The good news is I have found so many young people who are wonderfully accepting of me, and even helpful. I love what I'm learning. I'd do this even if I never earned a penny from it, though it would be nice to eat. And as to tough times? I am, after all, an old soldier.

I enjoy my pity party for a second more. Then, a little bit stronger, I click on one of my favorite musicians at YouTube--like Sara Evans--and get back to doing my homework. Trust me, there are a lot worse things to do, and a lot worse places to be. So enjoy a little Sara Evans, on me.

Do you tube too?

As well-informed and educated Americans, we all know that the Internets is a series of tubes. One of the most important of these is the YouTube.

I’m going to let that one sink in a little bit.

In all seriousness, YouTube has been an Internet staple of mine since I first discovered it in 2006. I catch myself mindlessly browsing the site for some cheap laughs and time-wasting entertainment. I am on this website daily. With 35 hours of video being uploaded a minute, I know I’m not the only one (other than the trolls, anyway).

Music, Comedy, Drama, News, Memes...

Nearly everything that you could ever want to watch is on YouTube*. The best word to describe this website: random. I watch videos on related video lists just because I can. Because of this, 5 minutes of browsing turns to 15, 15 minutes turns into 40, and all of a sudden, I look up at the clock to find out that I have wasted 3 hours of my life. Guilt sets in with depression soon to follow. I then distract myself with a video of two bunnies in cups because really, who could be sad after watching that?

That's right: only Dallas Cowboys fans.

With so much traffic on this website every day, does it make you wonder about the world?

…No? I didn’t think so. Here are some links to videos that are important for your soul:

Artistic Representation of Misogyny in Society

Child Prodigy's Ukulele and Singing Demonstration

Beautiful Rendition of Nickelback's "Photograph"

Mind-blowing Martial Arts Demonstration

A Touching Moment between a Girl and her Dog

The Russian who Single-handedly Ended the Cold War

A Man who can Change your Worldviews in Seconds

How to Seduce Anyone of any Gender

...and there are so many more videos to be watched! Why are you still reading this?!



*Go to Netflix and Hulu for Movies and TV shows.