Good morning, Wednesday. It's particularly full-on in the allergy department today. I have such a headache and I'm sneezing my head off. Oh, well. It's Spring- suppose it's the price you pay for beautiful days. I'm up for it.
So this week has me in that wanting to travel and get away kind of place, but I was thinking about something this morning- about wanting to be in a different time and place in my mind, and further, in culture-at-large. Tall order.
Lately, I've found myself listening to the Pixies. A lot. That's not unusual I know. In particular "Where is my mind" is on repeat as I ride the trains, walk the streets, and search for meaning (tall order again). That song always makes me think of that amazing scene at the end of "Fight Club" when the world is blowing up around Tyler and his girl, and they're watching the beauty of such destruction from a high level spot, holding hands while it all falls away. I myself feel lately that I'm watching something similar, and though thank the sweet Lord above carnage is not happening all around me this very moment, I can't help but feel we're really losing it as a people. There's no need to recount the events of recent history, there's pretty good evidence that shit is not right, and we've a lot to do to make it better.
Perhaps you are a social media junkie like I am, you'll no doubt have noticed how many people are congratulating themselves for drinking any variety of juice in the morning, tracking runs with Nike technology, or railing against things like Oreos, cell phones, and basically anything that is not raw, sprouted, or organic. Listen, I'm into all of that too- I admittedly have fallen under the very expensive spell of Organic Avenue, I go to the gym as much as I can, and I'm not going to tuck into a huge bag of Oreos anytime soon. But all of this energy and fear mongering about sugar, being fat, and the gluttony of eating all the food we are used to is really working my last and final nerve. We know we're not supposed to eat a bag of cookies. Sure there are people who don't, but for the most part, we do. But what in hell is wrong with eating a sandwich cookie from time to time? Is the world really ending because people eat Oreos and don't drink a green dream smoothie instead? Nope. I think the world is ending because we are so incredibly self involved and obsessed with harder, stronger, better, faster we've forgotten all about nicer, happier, lovelier, and more humble. Are we so far gone and busy taking care of numero uno that there's no room for anything else?
I think all of this health gone crazy talk and fear mongering is due to our severe imbalance in class, culture, and most of all, control. I recently read a great piece somewhere that this whole juice thing is perfect for people prone to anorexia (juicearexics, anyone?) because drinking carefully measured portions of juice is pretty much textbook nirvana for people seeking control and order. I'm just wondering if people trying to feed a family of four or five or ten ever thinks about such things, or could even vaguely afford a 50 dollar daily supply of juice. Why not take that 50 dollars and donate to a charity? Or help an animal in need? Or simply help a friend or family member having a rough go of things? I am not against taking care of oneself, but I'm starting to feel like I want to rebel against it, because I'm tired of how very elitist it all is. How skinny has become the marker of a good life and how anything more than that is somehow an indicator of failure or inability for self control. And though I completely acknowledge we are living in a world spiraled, I think what's more important than low body fat and glowing skin is not only taking care of ourselves, but finding compassion to help take care of others. Perhaps we can exercise some control that way. Oh, and eating an Oreo once in a while is not gonna hurt. Hell, have two. Just don't forget to share- with a pal and with your Facebook/Twitter/Linked In family. Healthy living is great but it should also include a heaping dose about the joy of simple pleasures from our youth from time to time as well as practicing compassion for our fellow humans. That's the way to regain control, and guess what? It has no calories or GMOs Cause that's what's up this going to another time and place kind of Wednesday in the 212. Today's wanderlust is more state of mind but I'm ready to go to the next phase and bring back some sanity. Want a cookie? XO