My musing today reflects on the "adult struggle." I know we keep hearing from all of the Boomers out there that kids are soft, weak-minded, and unable to cope with the stresses of the world. I don't subscribe to that point of view. I don't think kids are better at handling our first-world adversity; I think they are just smart enough to know it's all meaningless garbage. They stick to the basics. We middle-agers, on the other hand, are drowning in it. And speaking for myself, I am just so tired of "the fight." Since you're still reading, I'll expand.
We adults are some of the most unyielding and immovable objects when it comes to change. I think this is true for a multitude of different reasons, but the biggest reason is because we are tired of "the fight". Now I'm not talking about literal fights; it's not like we're living in a world of UFC fighters getting into random dust-ups every day. That would be absolutely ridic....awesome! Actually, in my case I would constantly be getting my ass kicked because my body hurts and I break easily. I wish I knew why... Please envision me staring pensively into space. Sorry, I'm back; I tend to drift sometimes.
Moving back to the point, I'm speaking of the proverbial fight of everyday life. One thing I've learned about being a middle-aged man-baby is that I'm just tired of having to fight for and over everything. Just think about it, ¿enjoy politics? Fight. Your utility bills are out of control? Fight. You have a defective product? Fight. Not happy with a contractor? Fight. You're on an HOA board and not everyone likes what you're doing? Fight. Want your kids to wear shoes in winter? Fight.You don't like your kids' IEP and want it changed? Fight. I might be hitting a little too close to home on that last point, but I think you're beginning to understand what I'm talking about now.
The more I age, the more tired I become due to the struggle of just getting what I've paid for, need, or would like to have. I don't know when things changed from challenging and fun to tired and oppressive but that's where I often find myself these days. Not because I don't enjoy a challenge, but because we have to fight over the simplest, stupidest, shittiest things on a daily basis. Like, why can't people just do the things they're supposed to do or claim that they'll do? It would reduce so much friction. Come on, why is my escrow being adjusted by a thousand dollars every year!? Why is insurance going up when I've never had a claim, ever! Why do I have to reprimand a baby boomer for blatantly cutting in line at Costco? I'm just so tired of constantly fighting over the dumbest things!
This is why I miss war. Now, I know what you're thinking, "What kind of psycho misses war?!" I'll tell you who, this psycho! Please picture me holding two thumbs up, towards my body with a triumphant smile. That's right, war is pretty awful, but it's not all bad. Think of it this way, what do you have to worry about in a Combat Zone? Three simple things: chow, sleep, and not dying. War simplifies life into basic categories instead of all the meaningless BS that we have in a first-world country. Do you think civilians in an active war zone are concerned about their insurance premiums going up? Nope, because those things no longer exist when you're getting bombed and shot at. I know this seems dark, but I'm telling you, it's true!
This brings me to the point of this musing. Kids don't worry about any of those things. They're just like Soldiers; all they care about is the basics (chow, sleep, fun shit). I know that kids' base needs are all that they care about when they're young, but I think there's something to that because, at least for my kids, they're almost always happy.
In closing, let's all try to fight less and be more like kids. Eat a little trash once in a while, throw the occasional tantrum and take naps. I think the world would be a much better place if we all fought less and took more naps. Dad out.