I firmly believe that a lot of stress can be handled with a big dose of common sense. However, what would seem to be an innate quality that every human being has available is practically ready for a spot in the Smithsonian. I have often mentioned to my literary agent that I would love to write a book on common sense. He always counters with “Nobody will buy it”! I guess that says it all. What was so readily available to my grandparents and my parents seems to have withered and died on the vine with each succeeding generation.
Today it seems that the smallest problem is blown out of proportion, sent out on some form of social media and regurgitated over and over until you feel like sticking a fork in your eye for relief.
I live in New England where the weather is like a game of roulette. You never know what to expect. Of course you do have a slight chance of being right sometimes, like the winter. Most often it’s cold and it could snow. But the newscasters act as if a week that drops into the 20’s is akin to discovering an ice cream stand on Mars. If snow is in their forecast they begin to cover it day and night as soon as the first snowflake emerges. A plethora of weatherman are positioned all over the state and especially near the ocean so that we can be scared silly with each succeeding wave. After all I’m definitely going swimming or boating on a frigid, snowy day. Aren’t you?
Then the stores start filling up with people buying the proverbial bread and milk, which I have always found ludicrous. If the lights go out and I’m hungry, I don’t think a piece of limp bread and lukewarm milk is going to do the trick. I probably would have some cheese, crackers and a glass of wine.
Of course the weather is just one piece of the pie. Food has become another lost cause when it comes to common sense. You have to be told constantly that too much fat and sugar are bad for you.You should really be eating your fruits and vegetables. My first grade teacher Mrs. Bernstein told me that back in the Neanderthal era.
We seem to have to be told to get up and move more too. One of my science magazines just had an article called “Sitting Kills”. Well, yes it does, especially if you never get up from the chair.
So here’s some practical advice. When or if it snows, make sure you have lots of carrots in the house, go outside without your coat for about five minutes since shivering burns calories, then go back and sit in your chair, knowing that you just might live a little longer.