I am really wondering how many people look for the answer, the anecdote, the solution, and the remedy, outside of themselves. If you conclude that judging by the sales figures of soothsayers, palm readers, horoscope books, and infomercial responses, the statistics have got to be staggeringly lopsided in favor of "in others". Since we have a meal half cooked - on this subject - I would like to also add, psychoanalysis, the hairdresser, a friend of the family, good guy who works on your car, and two guys named Mike! All in search of that ever elusive "peace of mind" that is also known as the safety zone.

As kids, we played games that mirrored real life such as: Hide and Seek. The objective to make it home safely is a metaphor in the adult real life to be comfortable, successful, content, healthy, satisfied, all with a piece of mind so surreal it is found mostly in fairy tale books. Is it unrealistic to yearn for, and then achieve a semblance of that "success Gumbo" together, all of us, at the same time? Yes! It is unrealistic; to believe we can collectively arrive at that point together. Yes again, that some people can be helpful, influential, and need not be any qualifier: as in Doctor Sir, or P.H.D. Ma'am to advise us. However, in this life there are trial and tribulation for everybody! Oh sure, the short-term answer to this poker problem was provided by an observant friend who offered, "You are playing too many hands, too passively". Good stuff, no doubt, but what about before you ever arrived at the casino. For example: What is your living arrangements like, do you want to get married, get him/her out of your house, need a new car, he/she is having an affair, in dire straits, having financial difficulty, abusing alcohol, drugs or spouses. I bet you did not divulge that bit of information to the nosey neighbors. Actually, it would not matter because the only person who can solve for x - to use a mathematical equation - in this life is SELF. It is about utilizing all the perimeter aids - including people - to arrive at that place where we can function objectively about any subject matter and not waver. We can arrive at that place neither together, nor at the same time. As for why are all these bad things happening to you, both at the table and in real life, I can only say this: There is a season, a reason, and a time for all things. This only comes into affect when all the other things are in harmony. You cannot be a $1-$2 player in poker and then play $2,000-$4,000 and believe you will win if every thing is in harmony, because it would not be. The only way that scenario could "fly" is: you were Santa Claus and your objective was to give away a lot of money for Christmas gifts!

The reason that I can say all these things is that I have been the gamut on many of the subject matters that I have mentioned. There are some things that I have tried that were going to happen, less a flea stopped a Mack truck. Here are the results of that collision: winner one non-descript flea! Since I am only human, I reacted like most adults who are, secure, understanding, law-abiding, gainfully employed, even keeled, thoughtful, progressive men: I went OFF! "Why is this happening to me all the time, same thing, all the time, what do I have to do?" Everything that I've stated is easier said...