Notes from Steve

I have "disaster fatigue".  Meaning - 24-hour access to weather, news, and all things "disaster" creates competition for views and a general stirring up of hysteria.  Like last night (this was written a week ago) - the tornado siren warnings went off in good weather hours before.  So now (then) my blood pressure is elevated, and I'm looking at every weather app.  This is not good for society in general (not the not knowing the weather - that's "crying wolf" on everything that has the potential and scaring people like me).  

In today's world, we know too much.  I've told the story many times about a carload of friends and family in a 1979 Cutlass Supreme going down to the University of Iowa for college orientation in the summer of 1983, and spending the whole time driving (five hours) trying to remember what the wife's first name on Green Acres was* - we didn't have Google or the ability to find out.  I miss "wondering" and thinking about answers.  What happens to the brain when we don't have to think anymore?  It's not bad to have access to tools to help us be creative and keep ourselves safe … but to use the shortcuts all the time instead of using the old noggin?  Nah.  

My "No Drama"** pin, which I've worn for years now on my nametag, reminds me that life is about my journey.  My goal in life should be to take the best care of myself so that I can be the best version of myself for others. Having access to whatever just because it pops into my mind - allows me to have no constraint or patience.  I need someone to say, "Go to the library and figure it out."  Googling everything because I can whenever I want is not healthy.

*Lisa 
**I started wearing it around 2009, and people would glance at it and ask, "Does that say 'no Obama'"?  Which caused me undue anxiety.