I used to have a newspaper column until the editor, like many in the publishing world, decided to put the column online and expect me to write it for free. My initial response was to kindly thank him but decline his generous offer. But after giving it some thought, I decided to kindly thank him and decline his generous offer.
Money wasn't the issue. Honestly, I didn't write the column for the $50 in cold hard cash I received each month. Instead, I wrote the column because it forced me to be creative and to be funny. To my surprise, I found that there were people in my community who not only read it, they actually liked it. When it moved out of the paper and into an online format, however, I figured those same loyal fans were not as likely to look for the column online - especially since the newspaper was notorious about forgetting to post it on their website.
So, I'm now columnless, without a forum to express my creative humor writing gland. But after being inspired by the movie Julie and Julia, I realized how someone could have a broader impact through a blog. Unfortunately, I'm not cooking Julia Child recipes, showing funny viral videos, or dispensing indispensable business advice. Instead, I'm simply a humorist with a need to point out the idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies in the world. So, in my own small way, I have decided to focus this blog on what I believe may very well be the biggest problem facing every single individual on the planet: We just can't seem to get out of our own way to be content, successful, and beautiful. We're all idiots in one way or the other and the sad thing is, most of us never recognize our own idiocy.
This blog will be my opportunity to point out the idiocy in each of us and to analyze that idiocy in a funny way. I hope to tickle your funny bone while making you consider how to get out of your own way to become more idiot proof. Some of you will be more successful than others.
If you're so inclined to read this blog, I'd love to hear from you. Currently, there are only two readers - my wife and me (although my wife doesn't really read it) - but I hope to drive the readership into the teens by the end of this decade. Please join me in my quest.
Our world seems to be spiraling out of control. If we ever hope to get it back on track, we MUST help each other get out of our own way. And if we can't do that, the least we can do is make fun of each other.
Until next time, get out of my way.
Ron
