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Today


Election Day 2013 is over.  The media in the past 8 months has spewed a torrent of information, speculations and opinion.  Every poll, every sound bite or news bit that might have an effect has been reported, dissected and belabored.  Much of the focus has been on a few races, mostly because they have "national consequences".  In New Jersey, Chris Christie has been reelected Governor to no one's surprise.   And in Virginia Terry McAuliffe won, to mingled relief and surprise. 

Now we can relax and take a breath, right?  Perhaps the news will report on what changes could come in those states as a result of the election.  That would make sense and give us useful information.  So, how did cable news, newspapers, and mainstream media cover the election results?  By focusing on what it means for the 2016 Presidential election, of course. 

It is not just the news media.  It is a pervasive societal ill.  Everything is about what's coming and not what's here.  Think about it.  We never seem to enjoy the moment.  We are constantly being utched on to the next event, holiday, or project.  The continuous impetus is to prepare, conjecture, suppose, and purchase. 

I heard my first Christmas music on October 23.  It wasn't even Halloween.  And now, early in November, all retail establishments are filled with Christmas decorations and paraphernalia.    My neighbors (in an apt complex) have Christmas lights up.  If you are not already buying your Christmas presents and decorating, it feels as thought it's too late.  Hurry up, hurry up.  You are losing. You must keep up.

And on it goes.  There is never an event or a holiday that we are allowed to just enjoy for a bit before we prepare for the next one.  It is easy to feel that it is impossible to catch up when there is no here here.  It is like catching the horizon.  It is always out of reach.

I don't see a way, as a society, to end this behavior.  I don't even see what it gets us, except endless feelings of guilt and anxiety.  There is always another holiday, event, vacation, project to prepare for, measure up to, or worry about.   And as long as we refuse to stay in today, there always will be.  Much like the proverbial snowball rolling down the hill, it will get bigger, heavier, and go faster and faster.  There is no end.  There is no winning. 

The only solution I see is for each of us, individually, to step aside.    I think staying in the present and actually experiencing what is going on now is more important than anything that might be coming in the future.  Maybe we need to stop and look down at our feet and up at the sky and left and right instead of always to the horizon.  I am tired of running on the treadmill that society has created.  I have plenty of things to take care of today that are directly related to today. 

Right now, I am enjoying a beautiful fall day.  It is cool and crisp.  The skies are clear and blue.  It is my anniversary and I am going to enjoy each and every minute of it.  I have a choice, I don't have to celebrate any holiday before its time or listen to endless prattle from talking heads about what is going to happen in 3 years.  I choose to live my life on my timeline.   And so can you.
 

Our wedding day.
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