Surviving the Mid-Term Elections

The long, drawn out, excruciatingly painful mid-term election campaigns are constantly in the news. To avoid the 24/7 onslaught I can turn off the TV, ignore the torrent of political emails received almost hourly, avoid reading newspapers and listening to commentators, refuse to discuss the elections with anyone…on the other hand, I want to know what is going on. 

I do not need to know what every politician, including and especially the man at the top of the political totem pole at the moment, utters. But – for instance – I want to know if the SAVE Act might become law, if I will be able to mail my ballot, if Mitch McConnell will rise up from his hospital bed and be resurrected on earth or in the heavens above (or fires below).

Absorbing all the news can be a full-time, if unpaid, job, but I don’t want to invest so much time, energy, and emotional turmoil to the task. I do have a life, sort of.

To help news junkies like myself survive pre-election season, I created a list of ideas which may help alleviate some of the angst, or at least help a person feel, for a short time at least, OK.

Many items are palatable because I have discovered over the years that a satisfied stomach sends positive messages to the brain. 

One caveat – this is NOT the time to be too calorie conscious, overly focused on health foods, or excessively concerned with portions. Simply sit back, relax (temporarily), smile, and enjoy the repast.

Our sanity depends on it.

Here are some suggestions to briefly ease the anger and frustration over what might become the most hazardous and unsafe election in our country’s history:

• Purchase a box of the most expensive chocolates affordable.

• Stock the freezer with a favorite ice cream.

• When indulging, dress for the occasion in a comfortable ensemble – PJs, sweats, anything goes.

• Buy noisemakers. When watching a political report that begins to raise blood pressure, use the item to raise hell, release negative energy, and send hostile vibes across the atmosphere.
• Cook a favorite comfort dish, or order a preferred cuisine – Chinese, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Greek – what a gastronomically diverse country we live in!

• Pour a glass of wine, beer, or other libation, alcoholic or not.

• Before digging into provisions, try the following pressure-releaser: Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, breathing slowly in and out. Open your eyes. If still upset, bring on the edibles!

• When a political speech is televised, it might be advisable to avoid listening in real time. Everything and anything missed can be seen and heard on multiple TV stations, the internet, newspapers, and social media immediately after the speech as well as days, weeks, months, and forever after. Summaries, rather than listening to an entire speech, will limit a rise in blood pressure.

• Don’t forget to exercise. Standing up a number of times from a comfortable chair and walking briskly (even if only to the next room) to get ice cream, a drink, or chocolate, counts.

• Seriously, exercise. One day the craziness will pass. You will look in the mirror and ask yourself, “what now?” Be content, at least somewhat, with the image opposite you. 

• I am a senior citizen and an optimist, and hope to be around when the madness is history and we can truly feel happy, safe, and free again. But I will still want to finish my chocolates.