The Kids Are Alright

My cousin's kids are so funny. Just getting to hear the topics of conversation they bring up only leaves me to wonder what's going on in their heads. So, I thought I'd post a few funny videos of kids.

Anxiety, dreams and video games.

Most of the time, the anxiety that wells up inside of us captures our soul, holding us captive. Determined to shake it, the harder we try, the tighter it grips. Have you had one of those dreams?

Some show up in their underwear to work or school while others find themselves presenting something with no preparation or with out a clue. For me, it's sight.

I'm either driving or someone's life is in danger or I'm walking through someone's front yard trying to avoid the stickers. If I try to look where I'm going, my world goes black. If I relax, I can barely make out what it is I'm trying to focus on. I know the only way to see in those dreams, but I stubbornly try with all my might.

My dad told me, in all his random wisdom, that I'm actually awake. I'm in some sort of trance where my body won't do what my brain tells it to do.

I'm not a worrier. I just don't worry. Close to financial ruin? I don't worry. Possibly coming down with the only case of madeupcrazyvirus? Not worrying. The airplane is going to be delayed upon arrival, but the departure is six minutes away from takeoff and I've got to get to terminal C from terminal A? I don't worry, I attack it.

But I do get anxious. I'd trade my everyday anxiety for worry. It reminds me of Tetris. Remember that game? You have to line the blocks up and fill a line for it to disappear. If you're directly in line, you can press the downward key and force the block down faster. But if you get too antsy and careless, you might be one or two spots from where you want to be. Then you have to try to fix the mistake.

That's how I feel with life. I need to learn a few things from Tetris. I need to learn a few things from my anxiety dreams. If I relax and get my heart rate down, things might fall into place where they should be.

The Bible talks about not being anxious. Doctors say decreasing anxiety helps your heart. Stress is a bad side effect. Thanks, Tetris. You make the world seem to make sense.

Now, what were they trying to say with Super Mario Brothers? Hmm, turtles and mushrooms? Flying bombs and fireballs? And does the MIA princess reveal our lack of emotional commitment?

The sound of silence (I WISH!)

I'm either getting older (yes, yes, I know we all age, but I think my inner old man is waking up from his post-Ensure nap) or I'm simply becoming more neurotic, but the truth is, I'm hearing more sounds.

Yeah, could be a good thing, but I'm not spinning it that way. No, not at all. I'm hearing it all! I haven't slept well in the past few days, not because I'm tossing or turning or anything like that. Instead, I'm hearing EVERYTHING in my house, and it wakes me up. Everything from the refrigerator compressor turning on (on the other side of the house), I hear the dog yipping in her sleep, I hear car doors shut, or (the worst) I can hear a clock tick.

I know, it's probably anxiety. But it's seeping into my daily life. It no longer makes me cringe, but now makes me laugh. I hear so many things at work, as I'm sure so many others do as well. Working in a low-wall cubicle, nothing breaks any sound. I can hear the echo from the front desk (where many toddlers love to hear their voice echo . . . loudly), I can hear editors talk in their offices. I can hear "middle aged women" conversations as well as "middle aged men" conversations, "sports" conversations and "hey, what are you doing tonight" conversations.

My favorite thing is one person in particular hums or whistles. The funny part is, he only hums or whistles when he's moving. If he sits, silence. If he stands at the elevator, silence. If he's making his way down the hall, some song comes out. It's like his personal theme music.

I'd be no good in a large city. We stayed in New Orleans a couple of months ago, and the cars and horns about drove me crazy. A habit I picked up from my father is a "noise maker." I have a fan under my bed that I turn on to block out all the little ticks and pops and clicks from everything else. I know, I have issues. But please, don't tell me about them b/c I'll never be able to sleep if you do. I can't sleep as it is, so I guess it wouldn't really matter. Oy vey!