The Election’s Over: Ways to Help You Get Back to Your Normal Life

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I have no shame in admitting that I was a political junkie for the bulk of the campaigning (see equifax’s shining example of campaigning in a pr crisis) (and I’m going all the way back to the primaries).  My addiction peaked as the election drew near, and I think my body had a break through and began cleansing itself during the concession and acceptance speeches last week.

A week later, I’m ready to resume the life I once had, the life where I checked gossip blogs more often than CNN, then one where I sent videos of small children getting tripped instead of empowered political clips.

I’m ready to de-educate myself.

More than anything, I think that I’m ready to look forward and not behind.  Regardless of who won the election, I was going to keep my fingers crossed that positive change would come our way, and I have no desire to dwell on the shenanigans that have hardened my living over the past… however long.

As such, there are some things I think we can all do to shake off all our former woes and look forward to a sunnier future.

1.                  1.  Stop using the word “gaffe

 Yeah, we know that there were “gaffes” throughout the political campaigns, and when the pundits pointed them out, most people assumed the word was used correctly.  Ironically, use of the word “gaffe” was a gaffe in and of itself (a “gaffe” typically refers to a social blunder as opposed to a political one, or a blatant mistake or misjudgment).

“Gaffe” has been used ad nauseam since its first injection back into the daily discourse, and I think it’s time we put it to bed.

2.  Look up adorable kittens online

There’s been so much talk about the new puppy the Obamas are bringing to the White House, that indulging yourself in some pictures of adorable boxes of kittens, could help you get over your election hangover.  Videos will work just as well, too.

3.  Read a book

It’s all well and good to keep up to date on current events and what not, but you’re probably super-saturated, and some good reading would probably serve you well.

Aside from the fact that reading will be good mental exercise after you months of being spoon-fed news and opinions, you’ll learn to think in newer ways that will help you move past the election.

If you need some recommendations, try:

Notes From the Underground – Fyodor Dostoevsky

Mother Night – Kurt Vonnegut  (ed. This is, perhaps, my favorite book of all time)

A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole

Ham On Rye – Charles Bukowski

Hunger – Knut Hamsun

The Colossus of Maroussi – Henry Miller

Now, those listed above aren’t what you would necessarily call “light” reading, but they’re worth it and will certainly help you think of something other than the election.

4.  Do Not talk on your phone at the entrance to the subway

This actually has nothing to do with the election being over.  It just irritates me, and I wish people would stop doing it.  You and your call are not important enough to keep me or anyone else from getting where we need to go.

The 2008 Presidential election was a historic one; there is no disputing that.  But if we keep reveling in the already-held election as a current event (and this iReport shows that we are still obsessed with the election), we’ll never give it the chance to enter the history books as a turning point for the nation.  The dawn of a new day has come and gone; let’s consider this the noon of a new day, let’s pack up for lunch (perhaps a three-martini one?), and let’s get back to gossiping about some proverbial trampy co-worker.

I’m confident that the nation’s new optimism won’t fade into apathy after the novelty of a new President-elect wears off.   I’m just ready to get to testing that theory…

Jackie for AMP3pr.com

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