December 11, 2013

Government Issued Life

By Tammy Derouin

 

There was a time when I looked forward to the holidays, everything from decorating, shopping, wrapping gifts, to planning meals and holiday parties.  Somehow it all came together.  It may not have gone as planned but that’s the kind of stuff that makes good stories years later.

Events of the past several years have made the holidays even more stressful. Deflecting swings from my nemesis has become an annual event.  Of course, additional blows are held many times throughout the year.  No tickets required as they come without warning.  Dates and location are subject to change.   No proof, accuracy or minimum words required and as always shipping and handling is free. 

I’m learning to deflect more of the blows.  My armor is within reach. I’m equipped with the best anti-nemesis devices available and I have a theme song, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.”  Just to be clear, I’m not dealing with a broken heart.  My heart is beating just fine, no pieces to pick up.  When love has been absent for so long, leaving is the long awaited sigh of relief.    

If someone wants to knock you down, they will do everything they can to make you fall.  Sometimes they will even cause themselves injury in the process but only if the end justifies the means.  How you handle the blow is where you take control. 

I was having a tough week.  I went to bed early to give my mind a break.  Well, that backfired.  I woke up too many hours too soon with a mind unwilling to sleep.  At some point I dosed off and was visited by a dearly departed friend, my first dog.  She was a handful.  Her attributes included intelligence mixed with stubbornness, very energetic and a little mischievous.   She tried my patience but melted my heart.

There was some apprehension about getting this particular dog but not on my part.  Years later I was told she displayed all the characteristics of a “questionable choice.”  There’s a little irony here but I’ll let it pass.

At the end of the day she would curl up on my lap without hesitation.  I accepted her unconditionally from the first day our eyes met to the day her eyes close for the last time.  When love becomes conditional, it’s no longer love. 

When you put conditions on love it’s only a matter of time before it falls apart.  Trust and confidence begins to slip away.   It doesn’t matter if it’s the love of a person, an object or an idea. Conditions stand in the way and the love that was once there disappears.

Our government has been conditioning us for some time.  Little by little we have lost confidence in ourselves and as a nation.  We question our every movement and look to the government for approval.  We’ve handed over our liberties for a pat on the head and government issued treats.

There was a time when I looked forward to the future but government conditions have made life less than happy.  The government has become the guardian of our individual needs.  The amount of money we make or spend, the products we purchase, what we do and how we do it must meet their approval. 

Americans are creating their own nemesis. When everything is being monitored, freedom doesn’t exist. There is constant fear and you never know when or where the next punch will land.   It’s almost impossible to deflect their swings.  They know everything about you and they’re doing everything they can to disarm you.  

When the government pays the bills, you do what the government tells you to do.  Questionable decisions will put you at risk.  Unfortunately, you don’t know what’s right or wrong as rules change without notice.  Questionable attitude also comes into play. Behavior is also being monitored. 

Americans seem to be very content living in a government issued life.   We’ve allowed ourselves to become their pet.  There’s no love in this game.  Attitude and obedience will determine whether you receive a dog bed or dog house. 

By not calling the government on the carpet for the mess they’ve made, we’ve allowed them to slip a collar around our neck.  They will teach us to beg for treats and privileges.  They will walk us, feed us and provide medical treatment when they feel it’s necessary.  Their end result, being in complete control, justified the means it took to get them there. 

We’re all living at the dog pound now.  That’s what happens when you accept the blows and give up control.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.   But that’s the kind of stuff that makes good stories years later, right?

“It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed.”

Vladimir Lenin