Sometimes it’s hard to recognize
the reward you get from not doing something stupid.
We work so well with punishment and bonuses
So when nothing happens at all, it’s like a swing and a miss
An echo in a canyon
The same dinner as before
Life continues to be the slowest roller coaster ever
And only on some level borne of wisdom and experience
Can we sort of tell we avoided something bad
Like broken radar we can hardly make out
I think it’s a flaw
When the jump scare doesn’t happen
And we’re disappointed
When doing the right thing offers no immediate payoff
And we look around for the camera lights
The prize money and the trophy
But it’s just more days of the calendar
With okay weather
No theme music kicks in
We take another regular step
The same as last hundred thousand
But after this particular one
We’re supposed to say “Whew, that was close.”
Even though our heartbeat hasn’t changed at all
“Mundane victory” shouldn’t be an oxymoron
So many things we quietly don’t do,
That we avoid by continuing straight forward
They’re worth a celebration
If only we could feel them more powerfully
So for now we live off of faith
The knowledge of what it is to be just
Counting the blessings
And urging ourselves to be grateful
But that pull is always there
The high diving board and the lake of fire
The need to burn star bright for half as long
For now we stay the course
Thrilled on some level to be safe
But a little haunted
tags
the reward you get from not doing something stupid.
We work so well with punishment and bonuses
So when nothing happens at all, it’s like a swing and a miss
An echo in a canyon
The same dinner as before
Life continues to be the slowest roller coaster ever
And only on some level borne of wisdom and experience
Can we sort of tell we avoided something bad
Like broken radar we can hardly make out
I think it’s a flaw
When the jump scare doesn’t happen
And we’re disappointed
When doing the right thing offers no immediate payoff
And we look around for the camera lights
The prize money and the trophy
But it’s just more days of the calendar
With okay weather
No theme music kicks in
We take another regular step
The same as last hundred thousand
But after this particular one
We’re supposed to say “Whew, that was close.”
Even though our heartbeat hasn’t changed at all
“Mundane victory” shouldn’t be an oxymoron
So many things we quietly don’t do,
That we avoid by continuing straight forward
They’re worth a celebration
If only we could feel them more powerfully
So for now we live off of faith
The knowledge of what it is to be just
Counting the blessings
And urging ourselves to be grateful
But that pull is always there
The high diving board and the lake of fire
The need to burn star bright for half as long
For now we stay the course
Thrilled on some level to be safe
But a little haunted
tags