Thursday, January 31, 2008

POLITICS

Sitting home and getting to watch many of the twenty-four news networks you get to realize how funny politics really is. The sad thing is how many lives depend out the outcome of what goes on with all of this. These people spend time knocking each other and promising things and assuring the next thing. Which one is going to end the war and who says the troops may be there for the next hundred years? One is going to end poverty, the next one is going to give universal health care and next one will balance the budget. Some may raise taxes; some lower, some even do away with taxes, and some might just flatten them and make them fairer! They say “we’ll educate everyone, create millions of new jobs, secure boarders, build walls, open up the boarders, give amnesty, bring down gas prices, reduce green house emissions, cure all diseases, protect life, protect choice, protect choice of life”. WHEW! If we could take a little of this one, a little of the next one and some of the other one, mix them all together and maybe then just maybe, wow we would have some candidate! Who knows?

The truth is (in my limited opinion), I have followed politics for some time (especially presidential) and in all honesty I find throughout the years (with some exceptions), and most of the people who run are sincere. I think they mean well and have some true honest convictions. Some do flip-flop and seem to say what is popular at the moment. I feel they say a lot, then when they get to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and they are sitting in that Oval Office they find things are not as easy as they might have thought and the job is a lot more involved. That is why so many of them get white hair by the time they leave office. We as Americans can be funny too. We will put a democrat President in the White House and then we give them a republican Congress or visa-a-versa, so they wind up in grind lock for at least two years.

Bureaucracy, oh do not let me even get started. The other day I needed to call Medicare and I needed to speak to a human being. First after pressing eight different buttons, the recording tells me there will be a 12-minute wait to talk to a human being. Okay, a 12-minute wait this is the United States of America government business office telling me this, so I wait maybe 12, maybe 6, maybe 15 minutes, eventually a person gets on. I explain the situation and he tells me he needs to check something out, "to please hold on". I do. One minute leads into three minutes into 6 minutes, ten, and fifteen until a recording tells me that I am on hold to long thank you and proceeds to disconnect me. Therefore, we start all over again!

I was ready to eat a horse! In four hours, I basically, got nothing accomplished with all my calls. My instinct was to eat and eat a lot. I was angry, frustrated and my energy levels were down. I had to fight my old behavior patterns and ways of handling these feelings and for that day, I was successful! To quote Martha “that was a good thing”.

Yet it was not just a fight and I did not just sit there and bite my finger, hold on to my chair and just wait and hope until the feeling to binge passed. No! It did not work that way. I had to change my ways, I had to do things differently. The ways of my past do not work in my current lifestyle. Some one once said the sign of insanity is to do the same thing over and over the same way again and again. No, I found more constructive things to do. I spoke to people, I wrote, I even did a little exercise (for me).

We really need to try to do things differently. If it did not work for us in the past, why keep doing it the same old, same old, thing in the same old way. Sometimes we need to really change and not just talk about change and throw the word around meaninglessly. It is nice to talk change, yet we need to be doers, make change, especially change in our personal lives. This is what is really going to make a difference and count towards a quality of life.

Good luck to you in your political choices but more important bless you in your personal journey to make the changes that count.

Have a great day!

Love
Mike

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well ok I suck at politics wont even pretend to know what is going and secondly I am never in a state long enough to even register to vote as i move so much lolol Dont worry Mike im still in Nc for the time being.....but I do understand being a doer and making changes in my life. Right now in my life I am surrounded by very positive people who I call family..No we are not blood related but have been together so many years we might as well be. We support each other on so many things and one of them is beating this battle of a disease they call obesity....Our eating habits have changed and our attitudes are alot healthy and if it takes me the rest of my life to take off this weight then so be it...at least I have the rest of my life to do it.....
Oh yeah there was a point to this blog it was making a change. People promise us many different changes but we need to first make that change in ourselves and learn how to do for us before we can look at others
And Michael for you a special Carol smile only cause you asked so nicely for one in the last blog...
huggs to all and smile to all

Anonymous said...

300 of my 550 pounds had to do with being on hold then getting disconnected lol! but i'm serious can u imagine that we would sabotage our health for these reasons. i have pulled out hair over trying to talk to aol and having them in a calm voice after 45 minutes just repeating the question in a calm manner. id rather keep a 1900 dollar computer that was a lemon from the day i got it then to have to call customer service. . i guess im just trying to tellyouthat you must not miss the birth of your next grandchild cause of your wait on hold!! glad to hear you took action. as for politics i would not miss for one moment hilary as president and bill as first man! now that will be something to watch! your friend stacey

Mike Hebranko said...

My sweet gypsy Carol
I am glad to hear you are still in SC. By the way family does not always have to be blood related. My greatest family member doesn't have a drop of my blood. Often friends too make great family, as you well know.
I also believe you know more about politics that you like to admit, you are a very bright and tuned in person.
Greatest news (and I know it is that you are a DOER and you are doing the things you need to do to take care of you!
I love it!!!
Be well Carol and my love to you and your loved ones (family blood and not).
Love
Mike

Mike Hebranko said...

Hi Stacey
You Have come a long way (you sure Susan isn't running). You really have come a long way and you know about being a DOER and have proved it and work it every day. Great to hear about that exercise it is inspirational.
Hang on (but not on the phone too long) and leave that pretty hair alone.
Love
MIke

Anonymous said...

Dear Mike
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with so many of us. You have been so open and so willing to speak over the years. There are many of us who draw strength from you and appreciate your willingness to give so much of you. I for one am a lonely eater. I struggle everyday and more often I do not do well. I cry insode of myself from the pain that I cause myself. My quality of life is almost none because of me eatinag myself to an early grave. I am 41 years old I live alone and for the most part am alone. I blame no one but myself.
I found your blog today and read it. I ate a good lunch. I am planning a good dinner. Please blog more often and for those of you who read it share your thoughts. You all give me hope. Thank you
My name is Chris

Mike Hebranko said...

Dear Chris
I want to first tell you that you are not alone. What you write and feel many of us feel it or have felt the same way at one point or another. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the same pain expressed to me by so many. I myself at times have been where you are. The first thing I have to share with you is "lighten up"! Go easy on yourself; forgive yourself for all mistakes, attempts, trials etc. Today, right now is a new opportunity for you to take care of yourself.
Take the first small step, give yourself an emotional (if not physical also) HUG! Love that person who has been by your side for the past 41 years. Through the good times and bad times. You deserve the break!
Chris you can do it! The first step is about forgiveness and love... all for yourself!
Good luck I and so many are out there for you!
Love
Mike

Anonymous said...

I am so happy that I have found your blog, I have been worried about you. I use to go to your meetings but was not a regular but you always inspired me. I was so worried when you had your backslide but I never lost hope for you or me. We do not fight an easy fight. Our battle as you have told me is daily and fresh each day. But you always said and it stuck with me not to give up. Michael I pray for you and your family and many of us out here love and respect you and thank you for sharing.
a dear friend