November 26, 2008

• Autopilot
  

  Once upon a time I took a motorcycle safety course. The instructor told us that in life there was no such thing as safe. Every activity involves some risk. The idea of the course was to learn how to manage the considerable risks involved with riding a motorcycle, in general, and in Southern California in particular. When I rode, this week marked the beginning of my hightened risk management program. Now I call it the beginning of autopiloting season. There's something about holidays that lulls us to sleep causing us to move through our lives on autopilot. People get depressed automatically because life isn't the way it was when they were children. We find ourselves going through the motions like square dancers listening to the caller. The caller calls out the moves and we mindlessly dance telling ourselves how much fun we're having, or should be having. Traffic gets crazy and it's not just because there are more people on the roads. More people are also more distracted around the holidays. They're multitasking more than usual. The calendars are filling up with events, things to do, people to see, places to be.

  It's not like this is new. Every Thanksgiving Day people in America think they plan what they're going to do for the day. It's not true, but we can easily believe something that isn't true. We do it all on autopilot. What's for dinner? Duh. Why do you think some folks have taken to calling it turkey day? What's on television? Duh. Football games. Guess who's coming to dinner. A few of us are getting together on Thanksgiving Day. The menu? Was there ever any question? Sure there were many questions. Who's bringing the sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, bread, salad cranberry sauce, stuffing and how is the turkey going to be cooked? Wait, apple pie and pumpkin pie? How'd the apple pie get in there? Whose house will we have it at and what time do we get there? All those questions were answered pretty much the same way they were answered every year since heck was a pup. Since I hang with a very enlightened group of people none of them are on autopilot. They're all doing this consciously, wide awake. They're making choices based on what they want not what their parents did. Their food choices are made the same way. Well, yeah, it's what they always eat this time of year but it's not because they're on autopilot. It's not old associations, habits and beliefs. It's what they like and want.

  One thing I've learned over the years is not to talk to people about this. It annoys them. As Robert Heinlein so wisely said, Never try to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and it annoys the pig. So I'm writing it here instead. They'll never find it here. Okay, that's my story. Now, here's the public service announcement: Be mindful out there this time of year. People are on autopilot and, believe it or not, you're still a people. That means that even though you think you're wide awake and fully conscious you can still believe something that isn't true. Me? I'm not having a turkey dinner. I'm going to try something completely different.
  

  • 12:04 am
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