My mom was not a big sports fan. When we watched games, she would putter around the house, finding other things to do.
Then came Larry.
Mom adored Larry Bird from the first moment she first laid eyes on him. Why? Because he cried.
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| Bird crying. Completely acceptable. |
Why did Larry Bird cry? Because despite playing his heart out, he had just lost the 1979 NCAA Championship to Magic Johnson and the Michigan State. I don’t remember if she watched the entire game with us, but I know that from that moment on, she was a Larry Bird groupie.
His emotion, his drive, and work ethic were part of it, but the thing she focused on was his humility. The contrast between Larry’s quiet demeanor and Magic’s “flash” were enough to create an in-house Celtic-Laker rivalry between us that lasted for decades. It is true that Bird was a great example of hard work and dedication, and he wasn’t flashy. However, I must point out that he was not as perfect as my mom thought.
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| Bird trying to kill Dr. J, and vice-versa |
But I wasn’t the one who had the Larry Bird poster on the wall, or dyed our mashed potatoes green during the playoffs. And when Danny Ainge joined the team – look out – things only got worse. The Celtics won their fair share, as did Magic and the Showtime Lakers, but to a stranger’s eyes, we were a Boston home.
Why the Larry Bird history lesson? Because in a strange twist, my mom rarely watched the Celtic’s biggest games, Bird’s heroic moments, or his most heartbreaking defeats. Why?
She couldn’t bear to watch.
Seriously. Whenever a game got good, she would start getting nervous. The closer it got, the more anxious she would become, until she would eventually leave the room and go find something else to do. We would hear her call us from the her office, or the kitchen asking for a score update. (Remember, in those days there were no DVRs with an inspired “pause” button.)
We would tease her about it, and you all know that teasing an anxiety-ridden mom is not wise, or healthy. Now don’t jump on me about this. She didn’t have an anxiety disorder per se, but only Larry Bird-related anxiety issues. It would alter her enjoyment of the game, and occasionally the mood of the entire house.
Now that I am older, I have more sympathy for her. I am beginning to see that I may have acquired a little of the Bird Syndrome from her. Genetic? Perhaps. Learned behavior? Maybe. But I have noticed this anxiety more lately than at any other stage in my life. And I know exactly what is causing it:
Yes, the 2012 Presidential Election is destroying my life. I can’t wait for it to be over. Over the past year I have watched as my interest in politics has become more of an obsession, and taking more of my life, my time, and my emotions.
And that’s not good.
It is good to be involved in the political process – it is our responsibility – but there can be side-effects. At the risk of mockery, I will share some of the negative impacts the election has had on my life.
• I watch too much TV. Way too much. I have gotten to know what the talking heads will say before they say it.
• Wasted brain space. I don’t need to know how many early voters there are in Cuyahoga County. Or how many Electoral College electors come from Iowa. But I do.
• I am distracted at work by talk radio. Now you can listen to most any talk radio host you want at any time.
These distractions will end Wednesday. But I have greater concerns about the personal impact the election is having on me.
• I find myself distracted from my family.
• When I drive down the street and see a political sign in my neighbor’s yard, I think to myself, “I didn’t realize that Ralph is an idiot.” Yes, unrighteous judgment is creeping into my thinking.
• I have started making snarky political comments on Facebook, just to create a “disturbance in the force.” And I find enjoyment bickering about it.
The single biggest concern:
Am I letting an event such as an election damage me? Am I getting so wrapped up in something that is of no eternal significance interfere with things eternal?
In my anxiety, am I forgetting that the 2nd great commandment is to love my neighbor Am I kind to those I disagree with. Am I charitable to those who contend against me? Do I forgive those that I think are doing damage to our Nation? Am I “checking my religion at the door.” (link)
Am I still focused on the “weightier matters of the law? Judgment, mercy and faith.” As Neil A. Maxwell once said, “Don’t let proximate things maul ultimate things.”
—-
When I reflect on what is important, I exhale and remember that in the grand scheme of things, my life will not be impacted by who wins nearly as much as we all feel like it will.
Yes, the election might eventually impact my income, or how much a tank of gas costs. Eventually it might change my tax rates or my health care. Do you see the trend here? All these things are about money and earthly issues.
The President of the United States of America has no power over what goes on within the walls of my home. But I do. Foremost, will I allow the battle for control of an earthly kingdom steal away my happiness? I hope not.
Wednesday morning, I will still get up and read scriptures with my family. We will pray together. The kids will leave for school, I’ll go to work, and life will go on as normal. My top priorities in life will be exactly the same as they are today. What God expects of me will not change.
So I need to take a deep breath, put it all in perspective. Come what may, and love it. (link)
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I’m like your mom was and I have to leave the room if a team I care about is playing and the score is close. Two years ago trying to watch BYU play in the basketball tournament just about killed me. (I was in another room for much of it.) I didn’t watch any of the election returns either. I couldn’t take the anxiety it would have caused.
Nice post. I fear that, while it is real and important and can have a huge influence, politics does often bring out the rabid “sports fan” mentality, where winning or losing becomes more important than the principles behind it.
(Even though it’s been 20+ years, and I was never a huge basketball fan anyway, I’m having a hard time resisting the urge to put in a jab about how much better Dr. J was…)
Just wanted to say thank you for this post, and that I copied part of it onto my blog and attributed it all to you. Hope that works with your definition of “please don’t steal my stuff.”
Being a rabid Fox viewer myself, I find the less than rabid view of the elections ( in the comments section) puzzling. Being (unfortunately) a senior citizen, having to quit my job to take care of my Mom, and when she passed away, not being able to get another job…I want to be able to say “que sera’ sera'” but I can’t. I know Heavenly Father knows all, but I don’t. I am scared to death of another 4 years with our present President. If you aren’t afraid, you need to be. Yes, faith over fear, but have you educated yourself on the issues? Do you know what another 4 years will mean to us?
In a word, yes. No way to verify the number, but I would guess that I am better informed than 95% of the electorate. I am aware of the ramifications – and that is why I voted. But I guarantee, that no matter who wins, the sun will still rise on Wednesday morning.
You might enjoy this. I did.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/478/red-state-blue-state
I don’t agree that politics don’t have any eternal significance, or that elections only affect your material possessions. There are so many aspects of politics that are spiritual (all the important ones).
Try telling Captain Moroni and the Freemen, or the founders of our country that politics are only for material benefits. Make no mistake that Satan is very involved in politics.
I do however agree that it is easy to get carried away in politics. This is what I believe is the biggest problem with politics today: contention.
Sometimes I listen to radio personalities (that are on my own political side) make up points and ridicule the other side over things that don’t matter, aren’t really true or that they weren’t against a few days ago. They try to take advantage of things and skew and spin the facts to smear the other side constantly, rather than just sticking to the facts.
Like you said of yourself, I often find myself guilty of unrighteous judgement at times. I try to catch myself quickly and repent. You read about the contention in the BoM and how the contention of the people caused so many problems and so I try very hard to be politically active and informed without getting sucked in to the contention of it all.
I intentionally left social issues out of the discussion for the sake of contrast. Perhaps that was an oversimplification – but I do agree with you. The decline of our society can be hastened/slowed by our leaders, but the direction cannot be reversed until the end…
Poltical commentary aside, this made me laugh. My mother in law has to turn the TV off when she’s watching the Jazz and it get’s too close or if they’re losing by too much because it makes her anxious. 🙂
And one more thing… “Larry’s not white. Larry’s clear.”
It’s about time an airplane show up on your header…I love it!!
Thank you.
I noticed the plane last week. Significance?
You would have to watch the October Conference Priesthood Session.
Me, too! I am so nervous! Tell me when it’s over.
I wish people cared more about which Congress people they vote for. I feel like 95% of America has no idea how government works.
Oh, I forgot to say- I was a HUGE Larry Bird fan. Pretty much for the same reasons your Mom liked him- He was good. He was humble. He was respectful (I’m sure he was simply defending himself in that picture you posted) 🙂
I have been slightly obsessed with this election also. I was listening to the scriptures while working the other morning and heard the words, “Use boldness but not overbearance…” I realized, I don’t know how to do this. I know the apostles do this amazingly well. They are so bold in defending truth, but they do it with such love for all. I have a lot to learn.
I was laughing when I read, “I never realized Ralph was an idiot” because that’s what I’ve been thinking about some people around here.
I am like Becky Rose in the fact that I find this to be an extremely critical election (the most important in my lifetime). I think there are a lot of uninformed people out there who are completely unaware of what has happened, is happening and the freedoms we are losing…This country was built on faith in God and now God has been removed from just about everything in society.
I do think you make a good point about the importance of having faith and not fear. No matter what, we need to press forward with faith- living what we know to be right.
In stake conference yesterday we were taught that we should love our neighbor as God loves him/her. Seemingly difficult in this political environment right now, hmm.
I will vote my conscience tomorrow and know that agency is a gift to everyone, even if I disagree with their use of it. (I will say that I’ve had passing thoughts of burning down some political signs but have not followed through with it.) Agency will get’cha either way.
I hope that we can all move on to greener pastures soon. Any minute now…..
I think it’s interesting the religious dilemmas this is causing. It kinda makes me laugh.
I know which way my state will vote. It doesn’t matter who I choose for president, however I am going to the polls to oppose some totally ridiculous educational reform propositions (actually written up by a member of my own ward, speaking of dilemmas) and in that way I feel this Tuesday is an important day for my voice to be heard.
I was SO enjoying the post as you were so eloquently speaking my own feelings and then…..my eye caught the countdown widget to Breaking Dawn on your sidebar and well, not gonna lie, your credibility just flew out the window…..sorta. Okay not really, Your credibility and wisdome is still there, but we MUST sometime discuss that widget.
Back to politics. I am having serious anxiety about it. But then I tend to obsess and over think too much about everything. Splenda Daddy (my EC) just reminded me to pull out my patriarchal blessing and re-read it. I have specific counsel in very clear words that I needed to be reminded of. Faith chosen over fear. The end.
So today, I’m gonna turn off the tv and watch season three of a pirated edition of Dexter.
Judge me… go ‘head – I’m okay with it.
mCat – I hope you noticed MMM’s comment just before the Breaking Dawn widget which says, “The end of the plague is in sight” – I don’t think he’s a huge Twilight guy – credibility restored
Tiffany: Don’t worry about mCat. Nothing gets by her.
I got so wrapped up in the elections 4 years ago that I’d be sick over all of it. This time around I almost feel like an outsider… I’ve been able to keep my emotions and heart pretty much out of it. I still know who I want to win, and I voted, and I’m hoping for good results, but the feelings you shared at the end of your post are exactly my feelings. It won’t matter who wins as far as the truly important things go in my life.
I just love this post! Thank you for this. I have just about turned the television completely off because of all the dirt that is being slung out there in political land. One can only take so much of it. No matter who wins, God is still in charge and has complete interest in this country. I have to cling to that.
Amen! This post really helped my perspective. And God is still in charge and knows the beginning from the end. And He wins.
Are you kidding me? This is the most important election of all time. This could hasten the second coming! This could set the stage for Israel to be surrounded and the Savior to come and split the Mount of Olives! Obama is practically the Anti-Christ. Have you seen the Movie 2016 Obama’s America? Oh, Holy Crap- this is real! Really scary! If you see it differently and I’m missing something please enlighten me. I’m flabbergasted that people still believe his lies! oh, I want to go on, but I must get off my soap box. Heaven help us all!
I never said it wasn’t important, and I understand everything you said. I intend to vote, and encourage every informed voter to get out there and vote too. (Stupid people please stay home)
The point of the post, which I would hope you would get – is that this election is damaging my soul. And that is wrong – and more important.
Last note. Faith and fear cannot coexist. I would suggest you choose faith, rather than fear.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. If you can’t name the vice president you have no business voting.
If it does hasten the second coming (which I don’t believe is true… I pretty much think God knows when the second coming is going to be, and it’s all in his plan what happens here), then so what? It’s going to happen sometime, right? Yes, MMM… faith, not fear.
The actions of the righteous will ‘help’ determine when the 2nd Coming will be? The actions, or lack thereof, of the righteous will either hasten or postpone it. I agree with what you’re saying, it’s just that there are more intricate actions involved that we can’t ignore, so we can’t be ‘stupid’ about it, to either points of anxious obsession or laissez-faire. Get out and vote–but know your stuff. (faith without works…)
I have to admit, I was a little surprised at some of the things you were posting on facebook, so I am relieved to see this post. It just seemed out of character for you.
I too will be glad when the election is over, but before it is….everyone, be sure to vote! No matter your affiliation, vote! We are extremely blessed in this country to be able to cast our ballots without fear of imprisonment or even death!! We should never take this great blessing for granted.
Actually, I am quite a political junkie, and keeping away from politics has been a conscious,and out of character choice for me.
I also disagree with the idea that everyone should vote. My message would be this:
If you don’t know the issues, and haven’t spent some time learning what you are voting for, or if you are just stupid – don’t vote. I could nullify my vote.
Just stay home and watch Honey Boo Boo reruns.
I have only been following your blog for a few months, so I am judging based on what I have read ib the last few months. I should have waited until I have been following your blog longer to make that kind of a character comment. I hope my comment didn’t offend you.
I do have to say, however, that I have been amazed at how many people have made similar comments this year, Republicans and Democrats alike, actually encouraging people not to vote. Sure, I don’t want a uninformed voter making decisions that I spent a great deal of time researching and deciding on, but who am I, or you, to judge whether someone is fit to vote or not. Who are you, or anyone else for that matter, to judge who is stupid or not. These are not the principles of a democratic nation.
No offense taken. You may note that I did not judge anyone in this post – rather I backed away from that mindset, and pointed out that it is a flaw.
That said, I can state with full knowledge that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people out there who will be casting votes in this election that are completely ignorant as to what it means, what their vote represents, how the system works, and what is at stake. And I resent that they nullify my informed vote.
As Americans, all of these people have the right to vote. And I agree with you that it is not for me to decide who can or can’t vote- and I never have – but I sure wish they would love their country enough to stay home.
True story: Today the invocation was given by a sweet lady clearly obsessed with the upcoming election. Her verbatim quote: “Please bless our candidate and bless that the right candidate will win on Tuesday.” People were literally laughing out loud. Me? I was giggling into my 2 year olds’ hair. And I don’t even live in Utah! I live in the completely Democratic state of California 🙂
Awesome insights–I get your context. Nothing like an election year to bring out the worst in all of us. I’ve never been so tempted to ‘destroy the agency of man’ by having the “rational” people decide what’s best for the nation; no need for them to even bother to vote. But I’ve finally come to my senses and am recommitted to the whole agency/democracy thing. I’ve cast my vote, but am putting my faith in someone that’s not on the ballot.
I came over here as a link from the jones family.
You put it perfectly how I am feeling. I am way too caught up in the emotion. I can’t quit getting on my iPhone to see what the latest news is. At least 10 times an hour.
You are right. No one can affect what goes on on my home. Thanks for the perspective.
Indeed. I can’t wait for the election to be over. It can get tense having family members on the other side of the political divide. Every presidential debate turns into a family debate if we don’t actively watch ourselves.
Even talking to friends at church who assume I must be on the same wavelength as them politically because of my faithulness can be kind-of awkward when they get going on certain rants… That sort-of thing has come up in more home teaching visits than I would prefer.
“The President of the United States of America has no power over what goes on within the walls of my home.” I think your comment is a little short-sided. I think I understand, in context, what you are trying to express…but I do think that the president affects what happens in our homes – but not what we spiritually do in our homes or what values we embrace.
Umm. Yes. Context is important.
I was tickled by the attorney who came to Church today saying he would never in a million years tell anyone how to vote. He was wearing a tie covered with little tiny red, white, and blue striped and starred elephants.
In our state, we are able to vote early. My boss, not a member, voted the first day and then turned off his radio. I voted two days later. It has been a very peaceful two weeks since.
When I get up Wednesday morning, the paper will be late because they are trying to get in all the returns, and I will probably have to listen to the radio on the way to work to find out who will be the next president.
I care very much who it will be, but there was nothing much more I could do about it once I voted, except to encourage others to vote in an intelligent manner.
But then, which president said it, all the intelligent voters are not enough. You need a majority.
Nice MMM, very well said, I couldn’t agree with you more and I forgive you for referring to individuals like me as “idiots”. Thanks for sharing this…
I did not choose sides on this post. You are inferring your own idiocy. Besides, maybe Ralph pounded the sign in upside down or something.
That must have been what you were really saying! Ok, good, for some reason I thought you meant LDS Dems. I still think its a wonderful post and agree with what you said. I didn’t know that you were listening to talk radio, you were in deeper than I had imagined. I’m looking forward to this election cycle being done and everyone moving forward too!
I could have written this blog….with a few exceptions.
1. It wouldn’t have been as eloquent.
2. It wouldn’t have had the great basketball analogy.
3. I became depressed by my knowledge and stress. And I know that I need to dwell on the truths that I know and not the election NOW. I can’t wait until Tuesday to get my life back or else…
“I didn’t realize Ralph is an idiot” made me laugh so hard.
I had just finished discussing with my friend how nervous we are for the election, so thank you for posting this…really needed to be reminded that it won’t change our priorities. Nice slap in the face moment. : )
Well said, and thank you.
Yes.
I have noticed that my fervor about this election is rubbing off on my teenage son and not in a good way. Like you, I have had to back up and tell him (and myself) that after the election our lives will pretty much go on as usual. There have been good presidents and bad presidents throughout our history. Most have been very mediocre, so despite all of passion and rhetoric, life will go on and we will still control the most important things which are what goes on in our hearts, minds and homes. Thanks for this post.
I know what you mean–I got the intervention of Hurricane Sandy this week to get things back in perspective. When our power went out the first day (once we assessed the damage and counted our blessings that it was minimal for us) I started going through withdrawals. But by day five my obsessive need to know the results of every poll and pass judgement on any negative remark or commentary about “my” candidate had subsided.
Luckily our generator kept the refrigerator humming along so the Miracle Whip weathered the storm–tender mercies!
So glad to hear you are ok.
So sad to hear that things your quality of life has degraded to a point where you are grateful for Miracle Whip.
Exactly, and Amen.