Greetings to all my fellow swimmers! Is anyone else done with winter yet? I shouldn't complain - we need the precipitation in order to have a lush, green spring and summer, and yet...there is something about the grays and whites of winter that while they are calming, can also be downright depressing when it's too cold to go outside to enjoy it!
I believe the term for that is 'cabin fever'! Some call it SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. When I taught part-time, I was home for two and a half days, and I can remember standing at the picture window in the living room and just despising winter...waiting for the green of spring. Back then, I wasn't a fan of summer, either - now, bring it on! Moink mentioned last night that he can't wait to reopen the pool. Something to look forward to.
DH sent me an article to read written by Tom Nichols, entitled It Might Be Time to Retire 'Jeopardy'. The article was interesting - Google it and read it if you have a minute. He was a former contestant in the days when the rule was five and done, meaning you could win up to five shows, and then it was someone else's turn. They got rid of it, and now it's become a sort of profession - learning how to beat the game. He mentions that Americans seem to love this Conan the Barbarian approach. We've talked about this a lot at our house - DH and I, anyway. We love to watch British shows. Maybe it's because of the accents, but I believe the real reason is BRITS HAVE MANNERS. You've watched the British Baking Show - we all have! Who can resist the witty repartee between Paul Hollywood and the contestants? (Not to mention his blue eyes...) If you've never noticed before, watch how the contestants react with one another. There is never any back-biting, laughing because someone's soufle` sank, or someone's bread had a soggy bottom (love that description!). They encourage each other. They are sad to see someone go who just didn't have a good bake that day. The show is entertaining without that feeling of aggressiveness. Manners.
Another favorite is 'Escape to the Country', where people choose a county somewhere in the UK ,and the host shows them three different properties that meet their criteria. No matter how difficult the clients are, the hosts (and the clients) always show the height of politeness. They also don't walk into a house and complain about how outdated it is, or make comments on things that can be changed. If the rooms are smaller than they like, they might say that, but for the most part, are happy to continue looking at the house. It might be apparent they don't like the house, but they still look through it, and find something positive to say at the end of the tour.
We are lacking that here across the pond. It is apparent in our television shows; our news stories; our politics; our schools. Ms. Business thinks it is because we are a consumable society - and we consume everything, including each other. It's always someone else's fault, we never have anything to do with a situation. How often do we look for something or someone to blame something on, when we know full well that if we'd been more careful, read all the directions, or just used plain old common sense, a situation or accident could have been avoided? We are also a 24/7 society, whereas they appear to be more of a dawn-to-dusk people. If we couldn't go to Walmart at midnight, would that really be such a bad thing?
If we could simply go back to basics and use a few more manners, have a thought or care for someone other than ourselves, or even understand for a minute that what someone else believes could be quite legitimate, wouldn't we have a little more patience, feel less stress in our day? I think so. We've stopped watching the evening news. Yes, we still keep up on current events, but the sensationalism isn't part of our day anymore.
Sorry if I've strayed away from the 'Jeopardy' thing, but it's all connected, isn't it? As are we. One person is no more 'right' than the next. What we all need to agree on is human dignity, valuing the person standing next to us in the grocery store, no matter how different they are from us. I hope that's what we've taught our children, and what they will teach their children. We try to stress kindness in school - but if it isn't reinforced at home, it withers and dies on the wind. Be kind, my friends.
That's what's on my mind these days as I float around in the Stress Pool. What's on yours? Please, stop by anytime for a chat and a cup of tea, and we'll put aside all our differences and just enjoy each other's company. Remember, there's always room for you and your favorite floatie in the Stress Pool!
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