Well, I found my axe: a bass guitar. I used to play a little acoustic guitar but not very well. So last week I borrowed an electric bass from a friend, practiced for a while, and then auditioned for a band. My passable skills combined with the promise of a website (I load the dice) got me an invitation.

And the result?
Better than amphetamines. I’m so cool I gotta wear shades. (My 13-year-old daughter is appalled.)

Like most people, I can get bogged down in work and when it comes to family issues, don’t even get me started. Very taxing. Aside from therapy and drugs, one of the best ways to shift gears is to proactively engage in a nourishing, creatively satisfying interest. The energetic fallout is almost magic. Obligations and concerns may not change, but the energy to navigate them does.

Energy is like a light bulb. Even though it’s brightest at the source, the effect spreads everywhere. Much needed during murky times.

How long has it been since you’ve done something new? C’mon. Integrate an old passion (or a new one) into your life. Embarrass your kids. The result is better than drugs and infinitely more entertaining.