Turning Blues into Honky Tonk

Have you ever been in one of those stalemates where you thought you were co-operating but the other person was sure that you were competing while the mood had turned to hating?

The moral high ground is at risk. The wall of contempt is being erected. Familiarity has morphed into vulnerability. The stakes are rising along with the tension. Every exchange, every glance, every insignifcant action gains significance and ratchets up the disagreement.

More chips keep piling up ont the table.

We're all judging books by the label

Everybody's raisng and nobody's folding.

Nobody's letting go, everybody's holding

That's the time to throw down.

Throw the vehicle into reverse.

Before it gets a whole lot worse

Look to perform a random act of kindness.

Seek to exercise empathy rather than antipathy.

Discover common ground.

Make that purring sound. 

Forget about the goddamned roar

The moment is now and not before

Unilaterally step away from the rising tide.

Try to see the othr side

Calm the waters down a bit.

Turn the cheek, take the hit.

You will gain an advantage, automatically. Gaining an advantage used to be called one upmanship. One upmanship can be gained by throwing down. One downsmanship can be demonstrated by throwing up. Down is the new up.

This is part of the reason that God invented the blues and how blues turned into honky tonk.