#1431, Wednesday, May 20: Letting it go

Post 1431, Day 140 of 2015
- 1,601 days since I started this blog -

May 17, 2015 at Bridge St. Tavern

Daily Comment

What do I do when I feel 'slighted'?

I admit my default mode is pouting, moping and complaining.

Thank goodness, I no longer go to default mode. Straight to complaining.

Just kidding. Or am I? No, just kidding.

Last night, I signed up to play an acoustic set at an open mic I like to go to. Because I was going to go out to an appointment nearby, and come back in, I missed an hour in the middle. When I came back, I was asked to play bass on someone's set. I said I would, but not at the expense of my set.

I played bass, then switched out to acoustic. I had talked to other musicians in the house band about backing me up on a song after I did a few.

I played two songs, as quickly as I could (no repeats, no extra choruses), then called for the other musicians I'd spoken with to join me on-stage for one final song. But I was given the 'hook' at that point. My set was less than five minutes long.

I was shocked.

My set was, literally, the shortest set I have ever seen at any open mic anywhere. I was hurt, since I've been a supporter of this open mic since the first one, and my sets, on bass or guitar, have been very popular there. I still don't understand what happened.

At first I got angry - got over that in a millisecond. As I was packing up, I asked another musician what happened? He was sympathetic, but had no answer.

Then the host told me I'd gotten some good playing time. Apparently, counting my assist on bass against my acoustic set. Despite me specifically saying I wouldn't play bass if it cut into my set.

I did what I do: I let it go. And, by that, I don't mean I shrugged my shoulders and moved on (that will come at a later phase of enlightenment). I mean I practiced an exercise I do when I find myself held by negative emotions. It's simple enough (it's actually been marketed as 'The Sedona Method' - if you see it, don't buy it).

Basically, it consists of making a fist, and asking myself, and answering, three questions while I try to feel the negative emotion(s) as much as I can: "Do you want to let this go?" ("Yes.") "Are you willing to let this go?" ("Yes.") "When will you let this go?" ("Now.")

Then I open my fist, palm down, as if to let something drop to the floor, and take a deep breath.

Once is usually enough, but if I'm still feeling bad, I repeat it until I don't.

Anyway, that was last night. Tonight, having a wonderful time at a different open mic, I heard a friend complain about the way that open mic was run, saying he would not be going back there. Apparently, they managed to tick some other people off beside me. Not going back sounds like a reasonable plan. I'm over the negative feelings, but I remember.

After all, it's only been a day.

Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:                   207.6 lbs

Previous Weight (5/19):           206.8 lbs

Day Net Loss/Gain:                + 0.8 lbs

Diet Comment

Argh! I shouldn't be up after yesterday's eating. But I am. Go figure. No help from today's dining-out meals, either, I'm sure.
 

Food Log

Breakfast
A Quest bar.

Lunch
At Ling-Ling's Chinese Buffet and Grill:

Brussels sprouts, kimchee, and, from the "Mongolian Grill", my go-to dish: pork and chicken with cabbage, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and broccoli.

Snack
Pepperoni.

Dinner

At Eskapes: A Chipotle bacon-cheeseburger on lettuce.

Liquid Intake
   Coffee:  28 oz.   Water: 96+ oz. A glass of Merlot, 2 shots of Jameson's

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