Fuck the Funk

Last time, I mentioned some accounts on Instagram worth following. I want to bring to your attention the account of brianjeansonne.

Bio says “Dad of the Jeansonne 7.” And farther down, it says “Choosing to live like the very last word is love.”

He has ALS, the cruel disease that robs you of your body but keeps your mind intact. His most recent post as of this publication is a reel, and he says through his voice synthesizer:

“I was recently asked, how do you keep such a positive attitude? I think that today is a great day to answer the question because I have been in a funk for the last few days. So, the last few days, I have been really tired of having to be taken care of. I am tired of having to rely on other people to do every single thing. I am tired of having to ask someone else to scratch every itch or suction saliva out of my mouth. I am tired of having to be nice all of the time even though I don’t feel like it. I am tired of having ALS. So, how do I keep a positive attitude? Well, I have learned to be content. And I have come to realize that my lows are not here to stay. And my highs are not here to stay. So, I work to live in the present moment. Right now, I don’t really have a positive attitude. But I do know that this will pass. I would say that I am content 340 days out of the year. This happens to be a few of the 25 days that I am not. But ultimately, contentment is the key. Love.”

Every one of you are already unpacking it at your own discretion. What resonates for me may not resonate for you and vice versa. But understand one thing - that this man, a father of 7, has every reason to be bitter, to hate the world, to hate life, and on a bad day, he still is self aware enough to realize that it is exactly what it is - a funk. A funk is not exempt from snapping out of.

What I gather from this is that even in these bleak and dire circumstances, we can still say fuck you to the funks that weave in and out of our lives. Fender bender on the way to work? Fuck that. You dropped the pizza on the ground before you could bring it into your house? Fuck that. You got beat out by someone who was better prepared at your job? Fuck that. You have car insurance, you can buy another pizza, and you can hone your skills so you don’t get beat out next time.

Gratitude clearly is one of Brian’s philosophical overview terms. And he also knows that love is the answer. According to Brian, love is the last word.

Love is the answer.