Simple! or … I just want some crackers

How many times have you heard … “you always have a choice.”  I support that statement; really, choice is a good thing!  I have endorsed the sentiment many times while parenting, and have also taken comfort in its gist.  However, lately I find it more accurate to refine the mantra as “you always have TOO  many choices!”

Take for instance Ritz crackers.  YES – the plain old yummy comfort food from the past.  It’s still selling.  And on a quick run to the grocery store tonight to grab a box, plus a couple other items while my chicken was in the oven … I was stumped.  I was literally on my news frantically throwing imposter boxes out-of-the-way to secure an original.  There was now Ritz peanut butter, Ritz touch of salt, Ritz low-fat, Ritz cheddar, Ritz jalapeno, Ritz whole wheat, Ritz salt free, and Ritz minis all in multiple sizes crowding the shelf.  I kid you not … the original was SOLD OUT!  What does that tell you?  It tells me all the ugly step sisters are NOT necessary!  Please, Please, Please STOP!  Just STOP!

When did life get so complicated?  I know I sound ancient, but only because I speak of a time gone by that our poor kids just don’t know.  They’ve never experienced the “simple” life.  So young is associated with the complex life we now embrace, full of so much excess!  Ah!!!!  The simple life, where a cracker was just a cracker, is long gone; and in its place are 7 or so enhanced versions.  But I think it significant the ONLY one sold out on the shelf, was the plain original.  Apparently I’m not alone here.

Trust me, I’m for free enterprise.  And I get that developing new product and expanding business is essential to the GNP and economic growth.  However, IF you didn’t have 8 versions of the same product – wouldn’t the same amount of cracker shoppers still buy your product?  But instead of scattering the sales over the assortment – just offer them the original, which is what they want anyway?  I wonder what would happen if a grocery store did just that – as a test for one week.  I don’t mean to sound un-American, I know it is our God-given right to obsess with excess, but I’d be curious.  Would the sales dramatically decrease, or would the shoppers just resign themselves to buying what Ritz is on the shelf.

I can argue this argument with anything as well … cell phones, t.v.s, colors of nail polish, dog breeds, breakfast options … how about coffee?????  I can’t even figure out how to order it anymore, let alone what kind I want.  It’s even become its own vente language!  Whatever happened to black or with cream & sugar.  Period the END!

O.K., o.k.  I surrender.  I’ll make my choices, if I have to.  But I won’t enjoy it!  It’s just another stressor.  I would rather keep it simple.  But … for now, I just want some crackers.

Ochre! or …. Right this!

Ochre, because this color was one I enjoyed regularly when I used to paint with oils.

I have to confess I don’t usually read the O magazine, nor did I ever subscribe to watching Oprah’s show.  I do have to give her some credit for her literary picks, however – but feel her politics and personality have actually defined themselves as reverse racist at times.  Case in point, all her gazillions of charitable dollars building schools to help only black children in Africa, her extravaganza a few years ago recognizing only the most accomplished black women and, from what I hear, having only black people on her staff.   However, this is only my opinion.  I’m sure she has good reason to identify with the oppressed version of black America … America has been so discriminatory towards her and treated her so unfairly – she’s only … what … the 2nd wealthiest woman in the world?

Anyway – occasionally there is a fabulous article in her “May we Help You” expert advice section.  (don’t ask how I came to read it)  I actually had a “take away” from it though, and thought I would share!

The author suggests “true happiness” is portrayed in America as the ecstatic, borderline mania we perpetually seek to become fulfilled.  We therefore live on the edge of disappointment and depression as the intense excitement we require is too hard to find or sustain when found.  She points to commercials projecting this lifestyle as actresses laugh wildly or demonstrate euphoria while vacuuming or doing laundry.  I get it and am along for the ride so far.

She then goes on to suggest the old adage “be still” and “just breathe” accompanies the more peaceful euphoria that is true happiness.  But it doesn’t work for her (or me either).  I remember back to high school days when a gorgeous Italian boy I crushed on for a summer, had just discovered meditation.  He told me how peaceful it made him feel and stressed how beneficial it would be if I tried to ‘quiet my mind’.  But sitting akimbo next to him in an incensed filled, humid, dark room, listening to him breath, did anything but quiet my mind.

Anyway, what she suggested next is what caught my interest.  Instead of heeding the 2 words “be still”, to find happiness, she adheres to “make something.”

While you are being creative your brain actually secretes the feel good hormone dopamine.  You actually feel absorbed and fulfilled while creating or busying yourself with a creative task, hence feeling fulfilled.  This results in happiness.  The kind that lasts.  She further suggests if you push yourself to focus on learning or perfecting during that activity, your mind will eventually retrain itself to be content with this form of happiness and prefer it over excitement or  manic emotions that bring you only temporary enjoyment.

I love this explanation as to why I’ve always felt the best when I’m writing – and in the olden days, painting.  Who knew?  … There is actually a scientific, physiological/psychological explanation for this reaction, and all the more reason for you to do something creative!  Make something!  Write something! Create something! Sing something! Draw something! Knit something! Learn something! Paint something! Color Something! Play something! WHAT?  WAIT … I’m getting a little manic here!  LOL

 

GREY! or … Women’s Lib 360

I work in a large book store and therefore, have witnessed first hand, the perplexing frenzy created by 50 Shades of Grey.  This book began being requested  discreetly in January, with a little more enthusiasm in February – and is now a full-blown fervor after a spot on Good morning America and front page article in the New York Times!  The phenomenon has been compared to the release of the controversial (at the time) Davinci Code and has its origins in the fan following of the wildly successful Twilight.    It has been described as Mommy porn, categorized as Erotica, and embraced by adult females from all walks of life, some who otherwise may not have picked up any book to read – let alone one that delves into the shadows of S&M.

So … of course, I had to read it myself.   Just to see what all the hub was about.  RIGHT?

I’m not going to review, judge or dismiss it.  But tell you, I really did enjoy reading it.  Although it is a trilogy, I have no desire to read the 2nd or 3rd.  My guess is they would be too predictable and more of the same.  However, the first one was an interesting education for me … and  one I probably never would have sought out for myself.  So, it was an unexpected and delightful surprise.

Since I have taken my job with the book store I mentioned before, I have opened my mind to read much of what I wouldn’t have subscribed to in my prior life.  And, although I now read many more genres, romance is one from which I still abstain.   That being said, I was completely entertained with the compelling characters of Anastasia and Christian and their budding/surprising connection/romance.  The book is well written but 100 pages too long.  The sex is handled expertly in that it is edgy and explicit, but not lewd or vulgar.  It is an intelligent, descriptive and believable fantasy (if there is such a thing).

But I must confess, whenever any woman comes up to the counter and asks for the book by name, I have to resist the urge to wrinkle my nose at them.  And it amazes me how many women actually ask “what is it about?”  WHAT?

Every successful story must have a conflict.  And the struggle Anastasia has with the morality of her situation is hers.  I believe it would be a struggle for most women today, and that is the universal appeal.  We can all relate to … what would I do?  And the fact that the situation (complete and unadulterated submissiveness to a fascinating dominating man who wants to pleasure you in crazy ways) is against all that you have been brought up to believe is right, is intriguing and what gets women hooked.

Recently I overheard a discussion from some tired old grey haired women insisting with disgust “how can women possibly be interested in this trash … after all that we fought for and gained!  It’s humiliating!  Most of them weren’t there for the fight for women’s liberation.  And now – it looks like we have come full circle!”  I understand how this argument could be construed …. I don’t agree with it.  But then, I was  never a big fan of that movement anyway.

And puh…leeeze – reading this book does not subscribe you to the dark world, nor does it indicate you have no brain, are morally deficient, sexually frustrated, or have no life.  Trust me … it doesn’t even make you  a “romance” reader  … it is FICTION for God’s sakes!  It is meant to entertain!

And, oh my, it does!