What This Song Is Really About

It wasn't about the whiskey. It wasn't about the anger. It was about the moment you decide to blame anything other than yourself for your actions.

It is so easy to look for a scapegoat. It takes a whole other level of self awareness to understand that your actions have consequences, and to stop the quick march toward those consequences before it even starts.

The Stoic philosopher, and emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius said it best. "You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."

In this story things spiral out of control quickly when the main character mixes a cocktail of bad circumstances and influences. Instead of taking a breath, or keeping himself out of an environment that may lead to disaster, he decides to let the emotion in the moment rule his mind. Instead of responding with a conscious choice, he reacts out of impulse.

Life is full of events, circumstances, and stimulus that test you every day. Most of these things don't mean anything until you decide what they mean. It is at that point you either recognize it as just an event, or you attach an immediate emotional meaning to something that didn't have one to begin with.

Either way, what will you decide next time you are at the moment before consequence?