ANGERTAINMENT - Claiming Countless Lives

INCLUDING MINE !

A DEMON HAS TAKEN HOLD OF ME.

Last night as I was working on dinner, I couldn’t find my favorite, small, semi-flat strainer and I needed it pronto. As I thrashed around the kitchen, I remembered my wife had left it behind in NY, as we down-sized and moved westward. “Come on - it’s an oversized spoon, not a Cuisinart Mixer” - I spouted. I was unreasonably angry and found myself getting nasty to my bride over a friggin’ cooking utensil - but not really.

A half hour earlier, I was sifting through lots of news on the computer from CNN to Fox, from MSNBC to BBC. Beer in hand, I read for the hundredth time that Trump might be indicted . . . and I read for the hundredth time that the investigations were politically motivated, inferring that he had done nothing illegal. I read how Putin made a deal to station nukes in Belarus. And I saw again how so many people were suffering immeasurably on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. I was very angry at the injustice and insane amounts of needless misery.

That Was Why I was Pissed!

It’s certainly not a novel problem and it’s happening all over our state, country and world. Whether it’s manifest on our nations highways or the back alleys of our cities, at CEO board meetings or across the kitchen table, that anger is taking us to bad places.

And we are all victims - to one degree or other. Fear and anger all too often turn to rage, and that all but guarantees continued engagement. The grand prize winners are TV RATINGS and stock holders, which translates to RAISES and extremely RICH PEOPLE GETTING EVEN RICHER. It’s as simple as that.

I remember reading not long ago, that about fifteen percent of Americans are deeply invested in politics - that’s a lot of people being stoked on a daily basis! There’s a fine line between being current, and being supersaturated with news. Consider for one minute, the percentage of news that you’ve encountered in the last twenty-four hours that is both NEW AND SIGNIFICANT. I dare say very little.

So What is an Angertainment Junkie to do?

First, we could start by acknowledging that we have a serious problem that is toxic to pretty near everyone, especially to those we love. We could admit that we are willing participants in this, and not innocent bystanders. After facing these facts, we could stop paying our cable bills, drive the car over our cell phones, shoot the computer, and drop our TV remotes in the sharps containers at a public restroom.

OR . . . my advice to fellow addicts *

As is the case with so many other, self-induced mental health issues, we could exercise some discipline. We could set limits, which is very easily done! The tough part is working out limits in a way that they’re actually doable and sustainable.

Take frequent “vacations” outside our head - sports, hobbies, church, volunteer work, or socializing with healthier peers.

Speaking of church, we could grab on to a mantra or phrase that helps us move to a better place. One of my favorites is - “Whatever is true, honorable, just, whatever is pure, lovely, or gracious, where there be any excellence, where there be anything worthy of praise, think upon these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

We could actually fraternize with the perceived “enemy” - those from the other camp, because they are not our enemy. When we realize “those people” are basically like us, it just might take some of the wind out of our sails.

• * I have been unsuccessful so far beyond a week or so, but todays a new day!