I watched TBL last night with a friend because she wanted to know more about what all this Dudeism thing I talk about is. She was confused because she said ?but you don?t go bowling? hahaha. .

I told her well yes being a Dudeist is more about the Dudes state of mind, not following his habits. In fact The Dude at times acted ?very undude? as Walter pointed out a few times.  The point is, it happens, but he always found his center. He does not like to be undude but we are human by nature and error is in that nature. In the case of the ?el Duderino? the way he found his center was by taking a nice hot candle light bath and listening to whales humping, or just veging out on his well loved rug listening to the sounds of a bowling lane on tape. That is where his happy place is, on a lane, just him, the pins and the art of tossing his balls.

I explained to my friend that the point of being a Dudeist is discovering what brings you to that point where you close your eyes and find your dude smile as the duder did. It?s not a religion it?s a way of thinking and maintenance for me. If Dudeism was a religion, I would have to go out and buy some clear jelly shoes, a brown button up sweater and a robe and prance around the grocery store late at night once a week when I need some half and half. Albeit I am always seen with a nice dark oat soda or a White Russian.

My friend George told me that I have been a Dudeist for decades. In college my nickname was ?groovy?. They didn?t call me Evan and when they referred to me it was always groovy did this or here comes groovy. He thought it was funny when he saw the movie and said that he sees where I fit into this mentality. They often refer to something called ?Groovy Standard Time?. Meaning ?eh? when he gets around to it?.

But enough about the El Groovearino. As I explained to my friend, The Dude in the movie found his center on the lanes. My center is smack dab in front of a live band I love with my eyes closed absorbing the moment of musical magic. I am lucky to live in Phoenix Arizona that has a phenomenal music scene. And the grooviest people to surround myself with.

I told her, find your ?happy place?. Painting, hiking, basket weaving, whatever it is find it, embrace it, love it and find your smile.  Do whatever you have to do to stay in that centeredness. It needs to be maintained just ask the Duder did. I don?t worship the Dude, I am inspired by his imperfect soul not afraid to be who he is and live according to him and not what the world says he needs to be.

 Tell me about your happy place, what did you do to find it, and what do you do to maintain it.

That I am learning to say " fuck it" to all the people who want me to buy their rigid, fascist worldview.

From dusty old dogma to "let's destroy all belief systems" atheism to "competition is a natural law" economists....fuck them all. They may throw their books around, or their charts or their so-called rationalist yet oddly crusading mindset...but they're all salesmen. Peddling their views so that they can say they have the most followers so their cult must be right.
And I'm not buying.

My truth is my own.

Happy place is a good concert, ganja sometimes relaxing and stay at home alone

Good ganja is all a dude could ask for, Bufalu. Welcome to dudetopia and our quiet beach community. Grab a rug and abide, dude.

My happy place is a comfy chair, my trusty old laptop, a good game and a few cold cokes... Simple and unsophisticated, but it works for me.

my centre is totally playing acoustic guitar and piano man, some of the 60's and 70's shit, some new orleans blues thrown in perhaps. i tell you what, that really mellows me out, no matter what state im in beforehand. you can see some of my shit here if you wish to do so

youtube.com/anthonydraper1231231

some of it is totally undude but whatever man, if you don't like it, thats just like, you own fucking opinion, man.

keep on abiding.

Welcome to dude land, anthonyabidesdude. Good to have you here. Grab a rug and a burger and abide, dude!

My happy place is doing Taiji.
My other place is taking a walk with the dog in the forest.
Another happy place is listing to music, be it at home or live.

So many happy places around ...