The stage of our nearby Central Market™ has power and air conditioning. It’s humid and sunny outside. I’m tippity clickity uploading video (the newest podcast of this very book, are you listening?) and watching a very different vibe of folk. I see a man ten years my senior having lunch with his lovely wife. He is watching her talk with that look of love. Lasting love. Even if he’s heard the story twenty times.
Another wifi-addict like me, a good twenty years older, eating a pizza and updating his chat groups and Instagram posts. He’s not an influencer or anything, but he has north of seventy followers. He’s on the updraft of surviving on retirement community. They’re pissed. There’s not enough money. And yet they live on. Alone again. How long to pause and reflect? How soon to put the lures in the water and throw out a bit of chum?
Wakeup. Your house is on fire. Your financial house is imploding before it goes supernova and wipes out all that you have done. What, you have three more days to pay your server bill or the entire hypersoul of your life goes up in a data defrag event. Gone. All of it. There are a few physical paper back copies of some of the first series in his garage. Other than that, what’s left is on our iPads and being sold by Amazon for eternity.
Money. Again. What’s that Pink Floyd song really about? I’m at that point in life. I look at the two possible futures across from me. If the older guy with the pizza and online chatter is happy, power to him. That’s the escape key, finding happiness where you are. Getting some tools to focus you mind a bit when the freight train is heading for a burned-out bridge. Breathe. Listen to music. Walk in the woods. Put your feet on grass. Open your mind.
All of this is unimportant. We are so diligent. We work so hard for fame, money, attachments to things and people and places. Most lose sight of themselves. The soundtrack in their AirPods is so loud they can’t hear the lyrics or chorus ideas of his own mind, his original and unique human thoughts.
What you are reading now is a declaration of war. You can choose to read no further and leave this brochure in the nearest rubbish bin. If you continue, you have been warned, you cannot unsee what is happening before our very eyes.
+blink blink+
Two directives.
1. Shoot your phone.
2. Follow the green needle to friends (this will only make sense if you read “hyper-soul“)
I looked up and the man and his wife were gone. My 88-year-old doppleganger appeared to be watching a movie, underwater. Like “The Deep” or “The Abyss.” That’s unimportant. What’s important to notice: he is enjoying himself. He is happy. Pizza. A soda of some kind (a little caffeine to help him stay awake. Cutest thing ever. He could be playing chess online, or spades. I got pretty good at spades online. Killing time is no longer part of my planning. Downtime is good. Wasting time is good if you’re with the right person. Or in the right frame of mind.
Here it is: only this moment matters.
Arrive here in this text with me in the now. Like Tolle’s Power of Now. I’m offering to meet you in real-time, here in the writing. It only takes a slight alignment, adjustment, a nudge here and there. If you put on the same song I’m hearing right now, that helps span the space between us. Here, let me give you a prompt.
{soundtrack.syncrights.sonic.youth.incinerate.live}
And now close your eyes. Oh, wait. If you’re reading, obviously keep your eyes open. Let’s try a different way. Take in a deep breath. Innnnnn. Hold for three seconds. Exhale slowly with a sigh. Did you sigh? It really helps. It’s like your physical body gets affirmation of how tired it all seems and the sigh is the perfect message. A feedback loop you will learn to cultivate.
Sleep, for example, learn to cultivate your sleeping environment, routine, and schedule. As you get into a routine, your body adapts. You can sleep deeper and quicker. Eventually you can shave back some of the time in bed. If you have other things you’d like to do in bed, or work to do, get on with it. But get enough sleep. Prioritize sleep. Naps are a good sleep enhancer. They help smooth out rough days. And they provide opportunities for dilly dallying as well, if you have that chance. Always dilly dally.
Did you ever read Mrs. Dalloway? Just a random thought. A play on “dally.” Never mind.
In the game of life there are several assets that can be used to your advantage.
Attractiveness
Fitness
Youth
Sensuality
Mania
A plus in any of these columns offers bonus skills, additional reach, and added chemical flash points. The ecstatic side of life, love, and loving.
It does not make any difference in life. It might make you happier. If it’s not hurting anyone else, go for it. You do you. Don’t apologize to the 88-year-old man you could become if you stay on your current course. We need a new center mast. Working on it.
If it starts raining, please keep dancing.
dig into the deeper meaning with the Cloud Pilots
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© 2026 john oakley mcelhenney, all rights reserved
