Down-shifting

It is increasingly clear that my expectations are "too high," and need to be lowered.

First, perhaps, my expectations for myself.  At my age and in my condition of health, I am not able to do "as much" or perform "aw well" as I used to.  That gap shows itself in many ways, physical and mental or intellectual.  In a kind of physical awkwardness, or lack of precision in movements.  In problems breathing for sure, and definitely in sleeping deeply.

So I need to get used to that, or those.

But, there are so many additional areas where the "standards" I have, what I learned from my parents, growing up in a good suburban city in the 1950s, with Dwight Eisenhower and then John Kennedy as presidents, set me up for frustration and disappointment.

So many people aren't as good as I would like them to be.  As moral, as kind-hearted or considerate.

Huge numbers aren't as smart, or as informed and reasonable.  This problem, it seems to me, is getting a lot worse, inflamed by the media, economic recession, and the shock of having elected a president who is a member of a "minority group."  But while it is especially true of conservatives, there is a fair amount of unthoughtfulness on the liberal side, too.

The political system isn't as effective as it should be.  The financial system.  The university system, the health care system, the legal system.

The system that provides our food (like eggs laid by chickens).

The transportation system, the roads and bridges.

The state of the environment.

I could go on and on.  In so many areas, things in the U.S. fall short of what they "ought" to be.  But, at the same time, perhaps I need to lower my standards for "ought."  Maybe this is as good as we can do any more?  Maybe I was brought up in a relatively golden time, when major accomplishments--putting a man on the moon, for example, or eliminating the heritage of slavery, the reducing the problems of paying for health care being experienced by so many of the elderly--could be considered possible, and actually worth attempting.  Eliminating billboards along our highways, keeping American beautiful--that was always one of my favorites.  Boy, that sure didn't happen!

Only a few of these kinds of good things are considered possible now, and proposals for good things are generally opposed by really powerful financial, corporate, and political interests, winning the support of well-organized but uninformed whack-a-doos.

And, maybe, that is just how it is.  Maybe I need to recognize all these shortcomings more clearly, but more calmly.

Maybe what I need is to downshift, to shift down, and lower my expectations.

The era we live in now is one in which things are getting worse.  That is how it is, and how it is going to be.  And, along with everything else, I am getting worse too.  I need to hold onto these realities more calmly.

Like the Buddha did.  Actually, I think it is fair to say, like our nation's Founders did:  they had a realistic appraisal of human foibles and fallabilities.

There is an example:  a word I can't quite figure out how to spell.  In the old days, in my young years, it wouldn't be a problem.  Now it is.  That is how things are now.

Comments

[Jenn F.]

[this is good] I'm always being disappointed by things, as well-- the country, people, myself. I keep trying to find the line between realistic appraisal and expectations and acceptance of the substandard. I haven't found it yet, though....

[Random Musings]

[this is good]

[Lauri]

[this is good] This is very appropriate and relevant to how I have been feeling, too. I am trying to look for the good things. The media really does not report too many of the good things that are actually being done.
We barely hear about the credit card reform, the attempts at financial reform...any of the better things that the Obama administration is attempting to do.
The media instead focuses on how many Americans believe Obama is a Muslim, something which should have nothing to do with anything.

I do feel that progress has been made. And (to paraphrase Desiderata) the Universe is going forward as it should. I sense deep within myself that it's impossible for the Universe to do anything except move forward as it should. And even when it leaves us with aging reflexes and memory lapses...all is as it should be.

Thanks for the great post!