I have come to realise, that just as certain earthly animals hibernate at times, so too do wannabe writers.  I have only come to realise this of course, because I have been hibernating from my largest passion (writing, in case you are wondering) for the past month.

It seems like yesterday in a way that I was happily sipping on pink gins at lunch time overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean, loving pictures sent to me such as "2013 will be my year" and other such items about positive thoughts and how this year would bring new beginnings.  Oddly, after a couple of pink gins, summer beach heat, and the roar of the crashing waves, I almost believed that to be true.

I now realise that we are screaming towards the end of May, and we are nearly half way through this year named 2013, and so far, it has not necessarily been my year.  In fact, at times, this year has been darn right hard.  Last evening, so much had taken place, that I decided it must just be a particularly trying week.  I then worked out that last evening was only Tuesday!  Far too early in the week to have such dismal thoughts.

And so it was today "wicked Wednesday" that I awoke and decided that a change of attitude was absolutely in order.  It made me remember fondly a lovely chap I knew in the early '90's who used to order cocktails for me at the then famous "Long Island Iced Tea Bar" in Johannesburg, and who, without fail, would order me the "Attitude Adjuster".  This went on for months, until I eventually decided to ask him why it was exactly that this was the cocktail of choice for me.  His reply was simple - "because you need an attitude adjustment".  He then roared with laughter, so did I, the attitude was adjusted, and my then favourite cocktail order was sealed in the great screed partly unwashed floors of that hip, hop and happening bar.

Coincidentally, or not, I happened to drive past the center which used to house that bar, and it brought the analogy back to me.  Yes, it is only May, and yes, there have been far more potholes in the road so far than I would have wished for, but, how one handles these potholes all comes down to one thing: attitude.

I have decided it is time to pick myself up again, dust myself off, and face the rest of the year head on, pot holes or not.  Having spoken to many of my dear friends, I am not alone in this dusting off process.  Many people seem to be facing certain difficulties they would prefer not to have in their path right now, but the reality is, there they are - difficulties, pot holes, bumps in the dirt road - and these said bumps could all be called by another name: LIFE.

And so, on that note, the lesson:  When the bumps in the road show up, drive at full speed over them with wild abandon; when feeling down, remember this is life, and life is sometimes not a perfect Monet water lily painting; and, if this still doesn't make you feel better - find the nearest cocktail bar and order something delicious - my recommendation of course, would be none other than the "Attitude Adjuster" - lots of ice, and an extra twist of fresh lemon.