’Tis the season to be jolly. Or so we are told. (Is ’tis even proper English? And where does the apostrophe go? I’ve found it both before and after the word when I check online) Anyway, now is the time of year we are supposed to be jolly. And thankful. I guess I’ve got the order in reverse – first we are thankful, then jolly. But no matter what the correct order, I am having trouble finding people in Jackson County who are practicing these rules and being either thankful or joyful.
It is not hard to see why this is a problem. Everywhere we go, every television news show, radio and most publications are bombarding us with the downside of the economy, health care and global warming (or is it now “climate change”?).
I have decided we all suffer from a severe case of information overload. The more we know, the less joy we have in our lives. And so much of it is contradictory. Or spun to seem different than it really is. “More people are now unemployed, but it is at a lesser rate of increase than last month, so it’s good news.” I bet all those “lesser rate” people are thrilled!
It’s time to turn off our computers and TVs. A few examples are in order.
The Atkins diet said to eat all meat and thereby lose weight and live longer. Dieticians said red meat will clog your arteries and you will die sooner.
A few years ago we were warned against using aspirin because it caused our stomachs to bleed, and in some people could cause a deadly reaction. Later we were told to take an aspirin a day to avoid heart attacks.
Don’t eat chocolate, you’ll get fat. Wait, chocolate has a calming, soothing emotional effect.
Artificial sweeteners are bad for you. Sugar is bad for you. Butter is bad for you. Butter substitutes are bad for you.
I think we are now to eat nothing and just drink water. Oh, oh, the water is tainted too.
Is an apple a day the next great truth to fall?
I think the time has come to lean back, put my feet up and ignore most of what comes our way. To use one last, old bromide: Ignorance is bliss.
