Back in the last millenia, when I was a debater, my coach told me that people favour the status quo. The presumption is always with the current system.
Even if things suck, we are creatures of habit. I used to joke that the reason Professor X and I had been married so long was that we were too lazy to go after something better. Don't get me wrong - I do love him and we have more fun than a barrel of monkeys most of the time - but we've also had a few moments of lifewouldbebetterapartitis, and there is an smidgen of truth to the notion that one reason we have endured is simply because we're afraid that being with a new person might be worse. I read an interview with Valerie Bertinelli about her breakup with Eddie Van Halen. She decided to leave him in 2001, yet didn't actually divorce him in 2005. She explained the time lag by saying "I'm a procrastinator."
People can recognize things aren't good, but they procrastinate on making changes. They worry that they'll rue their actions. Let us draw inspiration from brilliant songwriter Kevin Cronin, whose classic single from the You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish album reminds us
So if you're tired of theLet's watch the lads in R.E.O. Speedwagon sing this toe-tapping tune.
Same old story
Turn some pages
I'll be here when you are ready
To roll with the changes
Man, that brings back some memories of my wild youth. I remember seeing these guys when I was in high school. Let me propose that this song be an anthem for all progressives who yearn to feel a sweet sun shower.
Yes, my fellow Americans, it is time to be brave and embrace the change that is upon us. The House of Representatives voted today to take some baby steps toward health care reform in our country, and I say Bravo!
I will have more thoughts on this tomorrow. I must nap now. Change is great, but a mite exhausting.
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8 comments:
You know I am game for changes, but I'm with you: It's exhausting.
Here's to the next thing.
When I read your title I figure it would be about this needed reform, but then as I was reading it looked like you fooled us.
It will be interesting (maybe disgusting in some cases) to see how the R party twists and spins this in the fall.
Just one more thought - do you find old songs from your past take on new meaning with the wisdom of your years?
Lisa - I am glad you have an adventurous spirit, my friend. :)
lisleman - I think the spin and twist began a long time ago, and even as the vote was happening, the R's are scheming. The election will tell whether voters believe lies and respond to fear mongering. Here's hoping they're smarter than that.
Regarding song lyrics - OH, YES!! Also movies, plays, books...life has a way of enriching one's understanding of everything.
I fill in the midst of a sea of change and there is a part of me that wants to get back to the edge of the shallow end of the pool---change is great but it can be wildly disorienting. Where am I, anyways?;-)
xoxo
In theory I appreciate that change is necessary and usually good; in practice, I'm a big f*cking baby most of the time. I'll use you (and REO Speedwagon) as my inspirations.
I think change is difficult for most people. I've met a few people who need change all the time, but I'm not sure how healthy that is. I once had a romance with this Dutch guy who was an oil engineer and lived all over the world, changing location every couple of years. He couldn't settle, couldn't commit to anything.
I think there needs to be a happy medium. I've always been a "grass is greener" person, and I'm slowly learning that change is not always a good thing. Sometimes it's good to stay in one place, and make the status quo work for you.
As regards the health care bill, hurrah! Hurrah! A thousand times hurrah! I'm glad that Americans will now all have what has long been considered a basic human right in nearly all other industrialized nations - access to good health care.
Change is indeed a good thing--especially when it comes to improving healthcare in this country. Did you see the movie "Sicko"? It frightened and angered the hell out of me. Thank God we're at least heading in the right direction now. :)
'better the devil you know than the devil you don't'
I am laughing and recognizing myself in your familiar clinical condition, lifewouldbebetterapartitis.
(There's a new diagnostic manual coming out. You should submit this.)
And like you, I am cured when I think about trading in my set of complaints for a whole new set? Case in point, my husband is more of a doer than a talker. If we argue, he sets to "getting things done" which bugs me no end because, hello, he still isn't talking even though that is what we just argued about. But then I think about hitching my wagon to a guy who talks non-stop and never takes out the garbage. No thanks.
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