First of all, thanks for the laugh.
"I accept that I can't accept that and move on."
Priceless, Cort.
Second- this is really great writing, and worth chewing on more than once. I read this second chapter in your Quality of Life blogs twice last night, and again this morning, and I keep finding things I relate to. I also find things that I know I don't fully understand or have down...yet. But I am really enjoying this journey you've started documenting.
I also found myself this morning putting into practice a taste of your philosophy. I wasn't thinking about your blog when this happened - I was at the gym working out and my back was sore. For whatever reason, near the cable set I was using were no less than 4 guys, all around my age, looking seriously fit. They all took turns at the bench press doing like a 325 pounds...as warm ups! My first thought in my head was "crap, I remember when I could do some real weight on the bench press." But no sooner had that sort of selfish, self-pitying thought entered my brain, than your alternative perspective followed it!
I said to myself "What the heck am I complaining about? I'm at the gym, I'm working out. So what I can't do what I used to do. I accept that. I'm going to enjoy what I can do."
And you know what? It worked.
I didn't have any negative thinking the rest of my time at the gym.
And amazingly, my back stopped hurting quite as much.
The Bible says "As a man thinketh, so is he."
You may have something here.