It’s been too long since I have griped about anything. (Not for lack of sources to gripe about, but more because there were some big problems to deal with in the world.) Now, I’m back at it to tell it like it is. As I am writing this, I have three items in an online shopping cart waiting for checkout. The items are running shorts, a long sleeve mesh tee, and a short sleeve mesh tee. I’m tempted to click the checkout button, especially since I received a 20% off promo code. Tempted.
My day started with those thoughts again, and in order to salve my mental health I took one of those mental health days you so often hear about. I thought of phoning a friend, and I did, but the static was unbearable. It was like talking to a robotic alien race from the other side of the galaxy. It wasn’t meant to be. This would be one of those obstacles to triumph over in quiet reprieve.
Undercover, I meditated thinking how wonderful the stars were even during the day. Afterwards, it was necessary to douse my flaming head with cool water. In the mirror, my reflection looked back at me in disdain. I need to improve.
There is a constant undercurrent that has tremendous force but because it is out of sight it is out of mind. You and I, and everyone in our modern age are being sold. The world of advertising is nothing new, but knowing it does not keep us afloat. That undercurrent is powerful enough to pull us under. It drowns us. Just by mere fact that we are constantly being sold that the better life is out there implies that the life we live now is inadequate. In short, we need to improve. Swim or die.
Yes, rationally the logic does not add up, but we humans are less rational then we would have ourselves believe. We live in a world where emotional social intelligence (ESI) exists. A 1995 article by Nancy Gibbs reported on the earlier understandings of ESI here. Recently, I have been listening and learning from Daniel Goleman’s “Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships”. I have it on audio. Anyway, the concept is that emotions are viral. They are transmitted almost instantaneously. If you’re in a room with a joyous happy person, your own feelings begin to elevate. You can also check out this link for more info so go learn something.
My gripe is that businesses intentionally prey on this emotional undercurrent. It becomes a sales mechanism to big business. An article written by Temple Porter outlines tips for business leaders when considering hooking customers. Click here for the article.
On my mental health day, I go out at try to interact as little as possible with my surroundings. I do this hoping that I do not project my anxieties on to others, but I do go out and about to absorb from my surroundings almost like medicine. I window shop, and go to the bookstores, and check out the athletics store, and while I do, I realize I’m being sucked under. Constantly there are thoughts of: I need to work more, I need to do better, I need to make a change, I need to pick up a language, I should read more, I’d look good in that, and my personal fav I need to run more. There is enormous emotional pressure to buy away our anxieties. But we can’t. One, everybody’s broke and money’s tight. Two, you can never fill that vacuum, even if you have all the money in the world.
The medicine was truly in the social connection. I scheduled a hair appointment with my stylist. He’s my high school buddy, and he has a way have making light the heavy. It was strange how some of my friends found our way there, and we were all having one of those tough days. Call it fate or destiny, but it was definitely one of those right place at the right time kind of deal. We laughed, shared, commiserated, and absorbed. I felt better relatively despite having eaten little all day.
Coming home though is a different story. Now I’m in front of this laptop again ranting. Just so damn tempting, do I buy the running gear?
