The Best Thing I Ever Did

Can you honestly use that phrase to describe a moment in your life in an honest and meaningful way?

I am not talking about the time you switched from Jimmy Chen's Pizza Joint to Alberto Calamari's Pizza Experience. Which, of course, was undoubtedly the right thing to do.

Unless of course that was the best thing you ever did. If so, your life is small and your imminent exit from this planet will not leave a void.

I am fascinated by phrases. And how we over use them and trivialize them.

"Just like that." A nuclear phrase, to my mind. I am obsessed with those words. He changed his life just like that. He decided to stop drinking just like that. He dramatically changed his personality just like that.

Can you do that? Is it real?

Could you put the breaks on like Fred Flinstone in his prehistoric car and just change direction?

Imagine sitting in your recliner on a Tuesday night, deciding you hate your fucking life, deciding to drastically change it - just like that - and following through on Wednesday. With intensity and focus.

Holy shit. That would taste better than Hostess Cupcakes.

The best thing I ever did. That should be something momentous. Life changing. Life improving. An epiphany followed up by action.

People do it. "A life unexamined.........." People do examine their lives. They do make changes. Trying to stop the negative momentum that has carried you to the gates of hell is the hard part.

Inertia, baby. 

You keep coming home to the spouse you want to kill. You get up every day and go to the job that strips you of your dignity. You drive the cheap car you can afford and dream about the nice cars other people drive. You vacation in a cheap motel two towns over while others fly to Cannes.

Your underwear is stretched out, frayed, and faded and you don't even care. It's not like you'll be in any interesting situation where stylish underwear will earn you any brownie points.

Incremental change. It is a good philosophy. It's doable. Keep banging away, taking bite-sized chunks, relentlessly moving forward until the water slide dumps you smack dab into the middle of your miraculous destiny.

But what about the best thing I ever did? Just like that?

Boom. That's the kind of change that is required to supercharge your brain and inspire you to "make the most of your life."

Can you do that? Is it real?