Werner Herzog reads “Go The F*ck To Sleep” by Adam Mansbach. Excerpted from LIVE from the NYPL.
Anyone who has ever been a parent of a toddler will appreciate the sentiment behind this book. Hearing Werner Herzog read it is just the icing on the cake. Yes, it contains profanity.
You can also download a free audiobook version read by Samuel L. Jackson from Audible.
If you like the book, buy it from Amazon (or your favorite book reseller).
Everything Is As It Should Be
I have a rather unremarkable spiritual life. While I was raised as a Christian, I’m not aligned with that faith in its current incarnation. I do believe in a Higher Power of some sort, but I don’t think it’s a magical man in the sky that grants wishes if he’s showered with enough praise. I think nature has a design, and we have sort of a sixth sense that is attuned to that design and lets us know if we’re proceeding down our life’s path appropriately or not.
Having said that, I’ve been extremely frustrated with my life for the past decade or so: neither my wife nor I are the parents I’d hoped we would be, we’ve struggled financially, our house is in constant chaos, yadda yadda, etc.
That has caused a sense of discontent that has permeated my existence for the past dozen years. That is, until recently.
I’ve recently found the “Everything Is As It Should Be” filter, and it’s been working wonders on my life so far. I no longer look at my defiant daughter and wonder what I did wrong — I now see a unique girl who is communicating her needs in the only way she knows how to do so. I no longer see a hopelessly cluttered house — I now see some extra stuff we can donate or pick up a few bucks for at a yard sale. I no longer see a frustrated marriage where I barely get to spend any time with my wife — I now make a few minutes here and there to nurture and grow my relationship with the beautiful woman I fell in love with so many years ago.
As a result, I’m no longer constantly angry and frustrated — I’m now smiling and laughing again like I haven’t in years.
Don’t be a jerk (DBAJ)
Don’t Be A Jerk (DBAJ) was the cardinal rule in the online gaming group (as well as its host forums) I played in during the early 2000s.
It’s a basic rule of society, and of course it’s managed to make its way into our family’s ruleset, as well. Our kids are at the ages (11 and 8, currently) where they are aware of the motives behind their actions (well, most of them, anyway), and so I’ve been pointing out DBAJ whenever appropriate. To my surprise, the kids have been somewhat responsive to it, as well.
Now, all we need to do is convince the people running this country to apply the DBAJ rule, and maybe some shit will actually get done.
(I’m not holding my breath, though.)
