​Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you.
 
I have always been a fan of Gerry Rafferty as a solo music act as well as his former folk/rock band Stealers Wheel, and always loved their song “Stuck in the Middle with You.” Although the song was written as a satirical view of early 70s music industry cocktail parties, these lyrics always sound a ring of truth for me in these continuing days a cultural divisiveness over…well, just about everything.
 
Just watch the news…if you can. No matter what we feel about any issue, you can always count on clowns to one side, and jokers on the other. Somewhere in the middle is always closer to the truth. So being stuck in the middle may not be so bad after all
 
How can we deal with all of the seemingly unending bitterness, angst, and hostility?
 
May I suggest one simple and effortless way…find a sliver and make the world better.
 
“Huh,” you ask?
 
All of us have one thing we are good at that comes naturally that is a “people picker-upper.” Something we do, some way we behave, some way you talk…that lifts up others around us. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated or sophisticated.
 
Are you a musician? Write and sing so others smile.
 
Are you an artist? Paint, sculpt or mold so others smile.
 
Are you a writer? Write so others smile.
 
Are you a scientist? Invent or develop something that makes others smile.
 
Are you a car mechanic? Be a dependable and honest trades-person that makes your customer smile.
 
Wherever you are in your life, there is always something that you can do that brings joy, and smiles, to others. And more times than not, your sliver repays you ten-fold, if not more.
 
That is your sliver. A sliver of light in a world that can seem very dark.
 
Find your sliver.
 
And make the world better.