The Daily G.I.F.T. from The GratiDude

Existential conundrum or emotional turmoil? Well, call your Hairdresser, of course!!

Just like the old-fashioned reflex test of when the doctor would hit right below your knee with the rubber hammer and make sure that your patella tendon was still attached and that your leg would kick, you can do reflex tests of your thoughts and emotions. Literally one of the stupidest medical test you could ever think of because you don’t really need a doctor to test that out.

You can do a little thought reflex test, right inside your own head, and hopefully without a rubber mallet!! Ha ha.

When you find yourself in a perplexing situation, an emotional “spot”, perhaps a reveal of your own personal Blindspot, or maybe some trauma bubbles up, and you GOTTA talk to somebody. Not just ANYBODY, but a person that your trust and care for. Who would You call?

I had the opportunity to check this reflex a few days ago when I realized that I had gotten disconnected from my present moment awareness and I had reacted to someone that I care for in a way that was not ideal or how I would like to behave on a regular basis.  

All of the variables and things that were going on are relevant, but at the end of the day, I always say that ‘an excuse is just a lie wrapped in a reason”. I am responsible for my behavior and everything about that situation I am recalling I was a co-creator of and NOT a victim, in any way.  

When I analyze the things that I was contributing to a situation that doesn’t go smoothly or well, I make sure that I can learn as much as possible so I prevent hurting peoples feelings in the future.  It’s really that simple and it’s how gratitude works as a combination of accountability and seeking to find either the lesson or the blessin’ that is inside every experience that we have.

And for lots of things and personal situations, I immediately think of my brother Sean or my other brother DC(technically not blood Brother, but a brother nonetheless), as they have been next to me for 40 years and literally and we have connections that are deep and unexplainable that I never have to worry about anything when I am talking to either of them.

However, this particular situation there was only one person I thought of that I wanted to talk to, it is funny as this may sound to a lot of you, it’s my barber Dave who owns Dave’s place down on Main Street.

Dave is originally from Pittsburgh and he is the inspiration for a character on my radio show named “Pittsburgh Pete” who activates the Chimtanami encrusted Tito’s bottle that releases the GratiDude and his partner the GratiDread dread every week for our radio show.  that’s probably a lot to digest, but I’m keeping it real folks ha ha. 

Bet on Yourself with Self Talk, My People.

Put this in your pocket.

Dave has been cutting my hair once a month for about a dozen years.  I feel like I have lived about three lives in the time we have known each other, and he and his partner even gave us our cat Henry about five years ago after my old kitty cat, Winston passed away. Winston did come from Half Moon Bay, California, and like me, he was a survivor and a wise old kitty

(named after the lead singer for a famous Jamaican band called “Burning Spear”, Winston Rodney).

In the moment that I realized I had a really serious subject, and the person I most wanted to talk to was the guy who cuts my hair.

It made me realize how important Dave has been in my life.  For me to pop him up like that first of all the people I know tells me how much I value his sage like perspective and his heart that is so kind and compassionate that I know his opinion will always come from a Godly perspective.

So I called him on his personal cell phone at 6:45 in the morning.

He’s an early bird like me and I figured he’d probably already be heading into the shop as he is packed from about 7 AM till about 5 PM. Literally every single day he’s open(he is that good and that loved in the community).

He answered just to make sure I was OK cause it was so unusual. I was calling at that time and I let him know that I was great and I also explained the reason for my call. And I started crying.

Yup, this is what you get when you’re in my vortex just a whole lotta real all the time and some really unexpected shit like somebody blabbering and crying on the phone to you at 6:45 in the morning ha ha.

I knew Dave would understand where I was coming from and appreciate me expressing the sentiment because that is why our relationship is what it is, because we always keep it very real open and honest with love and support.

The critical thing is that I did NOT WORRY about being vulnerable, weak, exposed, by sharing with him my thought at that VERY MOMENT! That is the time to do it!

I truly hope that I can give to Dave an equal amount of love and support as he continues to give to me.

Pittsburgh Pete wanted me to write this…..and truth be told, so did I.

I love you and appreciate you more than you know Dave.

Dave is one cool cat, that ironically gave me my cat, and together him and I purr down on Main Street with an attitude of gratitude.  Attitude of Gratitude.

EVERY DAY:

Love

and

Gratitude

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