What is Failtown?

Failtown. We have all been there. No matter how perfect we are (or think we are), sooner or later all roads lead to Failtown. Have you ever been walking on a seemingly perfect day…the sun shining, the birds singing, a quaint smile on your lips, your thoughts drifting to wondrous places…then BAM!!...you walk straight into a tree. Welcome to Failtown. Have you ever driven in Minnesota shortly after a snowstorm? Look to the ditches. You will see Failtown #1, #2, #3…and if you look closely you will see tracks leading deep into the ditches that bare witness to once thriving Failtown communities. Have you jokingly asked a coworker, “You look like you are in really rough shape today, lose a pet or your girlfriend?” Only to have them look up with red eyes and the simple reply, “Both.” You guessed it…welcome to Failtown.

Unless you are living under a rock there is a very good chance you have seen, or at least heard of, the fail blog (http://failblog.org/). I love this website almost as much as I love chocolate, and it is a page completely devoted to those that dwell in Failtown! There is nothing wrong with visiting Failtown. We are bound to travel its winding roads, spacious causeways and scenic paths sooner or later. Failtown is my own personal reminder to never take each day too seriously. At least once every day I visit Failtown. This morning I took milk out of the refrigerator, poured a glass full, put the glass in the fridge and the gallon container on the table where my glass should have been. Yes, I was half awake, but in that half awake state I found my way to Failtown. I managed to follow that visit up with a return trip at lunch by chugging some incredibly hot tea with absolutely no regard to its 211.999999 F temperature…if I had not lost the use of my tongue from the burning liquid I would have proclaimed myself the Mayor of Failtown.

When people come together for the holidays they get warm fuzzies for the gifts and food, smiles and hugs, and the general feelings of goodwill. People will sit before a fire and cuddle, or pray around a table and share a sumptuous meal, or maybe they will just curl up by themselves with a book and drift into the night. I am not going to proclaim a trite and cliché message of, ‘Peace on Earth and goodwill to all!’ Rather, I suggest that this holiday season we share our stories of Failtown. This obviously is not the only way people will occupy their time, but more often than not, stories of our personal trips to Failtown are amusing, if somewhat self deprecating, and sometimes the gift of a laugh or a smile can fill gaps no amount of money or food will ever truly satisfy. If you have a dark sense of humor like I do, there is a lot to laugh at in these volatile times; climate change, economics, war…sometimes I think all of our combined visits to Failtown have led us to a darker, more cynical version of Disney World…Failworld. As individuals there is not much we can do to change this, but since we are all on the same Failworld rollercoaster I would make a single suggestion. Throw your hands up, take a deep breath then and scream like a crazed monkey. There is no escaping the rollercoaster of Failworld, and since we are all here we might as well enjoy the ride.