The Opinion Of the Voter

Photo Credit

Well we are heading in to election season and everyone is all fired up about their voting choices. People can be so passionate about what they believe to be right, that sometimes they forget that the core essence of America, is that we all have the right, to be "right". I have been accused of being dispassionate and even apathetic when it comes to politics, gaining years, I have gained experience. I have learned that just because I have been given a label, that doesn't mean I have to wear it especially if it doesn't fit. I can make my own fashion choices.

 It is not that I am dispassionate about politics, I just view it as another choice in life that I need to make. When I go to the grocery store I have to decide whether to have chicken or beef for dinner. I weigh the information, cost, other ingredients or preparations I might need, health, cravings and so on. Once I have made my choice, I do not feel the need to make sure the next shoppers follow my lead. Chicken or beef? Both are good choices, maybe I just have a preference for chicken as it offers more of the qualities I am looking for, its healthy, leftovers save well for lunches, it is easy to prepare. This doesn't mean I need to start an online campaign against beef. I don't need to go on Facebook and warn all of my friends and Family that beef is the meat of the devil. I don't need to tell my fellow shoppers that the beef is the wrong choice as it is less healthy and is hard for the body to digest. What is true for me and my choice for chicken may not be the same for others. What if the shopper is anemic? And her nutritionist has recommended that she consume iron rich beef? Well then how is it my place to push chicken on her?

Photo credit Propaganda Times

Voting is the same for me in this way. I feel that I have the same access to the same information that every one does and that I can make my own decision. By the same token, I think that every one has the same information that I have access to and that they can make their own decisions. It isn't up to me to do the campaigning, unless of course they hire my company to help them with their campaign. But my personal help isn't required, it is our politicians duty to present us with the information that we need to make the choice that we believe is right. If you are a politician then you should absolutely campaign and make speeches and teach our communities what you stand for and how you can serve us to the best of your ability. I am not saying that the general public should remain completely uninvolved, if someone asks you for information, or holds you in high esteem and asks your opinion to help form your own then, of course you should inform them. Keep in mind, to inform is different than to manipulate or create bias. If you truly believe in a candidate then donate money to their campaign, it is not up to you to represent them, but that doesn't mean you can't assist them.

I realize that politics is much more involved than this and honestly I think that is where some of the biggest hindrances lie. The current system is really not conducive to the education of the general population, it seems to be a game played by the masters, who sway the unknowing. I cant seem to find a purpose for this game, as it seems that no one actually wins, and nothing ever really seems to be happening, but then I realize it all must be about power and money. Power I have no use for as I am very aware of the strain and accountability it comes with which I have never been able to ignore. And money, although it is quite  useful , much of it has never really made it to me so I have no blood lust for it. Maybe this is why the purpose of the game eludes me. It is quite impossible to be a competitor in a game that has no interest for you.

If I have a passionate voice to say anything it is this, educate yourself, ask questions, then question the answers. Make your own choice and foster the practice that allows everyone else maintain their right to make theirs.We are all Americans, United States Citizens, respect our individual rights to make our vote for our choice.

Does fear drive away your logic?

 Now I love the out doors, but recently I have been presented with several problems facing me and my journeys through out the Southern Oregon Wilderness. First of all there is poison oak everywhere, now if that evil and rampant plant could be harvested as a resource for any purpose, then this area would be rich for it. It is everywhere and in massive quantities! I can only really see one possibility, perhaps we could use it as some sort of weapon, just send any opposing armies bouquets of the horrible stuff, and they would be so itchy I am sure surrender would be inevitable! I did not intend to add that ranty bit, but I am still quite a bit bitter about my last encounter with that specific evil. To get back to the subject problem number two is that although I find the lakes and their settings beautiful, I have an irrational fear of dark deep water. I say irrational because I believe I have a very logical brain. I try to see all the logical angles of any argument and I am a methodical problem solver by nature. I understand fear is an emotional response that is meant to protect us from danger, fear is what motivates our fight or flight instincts to get ourselves out of the danger zone. How ever irrational fear is something else entirely. Once I am in the dark water of a lake and have no idea where the bottom is in relevance to myself I start to have this very panicy feeling and the floodgates of my imagination burst filling my logical brain with ludicrous theories of dead bodies and large underwater dwelling creatures who have a taste for swimming legs. My brother once said to me "Why does the thought of dead bodies in the lake bother you? They are dead, what are they going to do to you?" The logic of this floored me for a second and I thought , wow he is right! Then the moment of reason was over and I am still terrified of the thought. No matter how I have tried to talk myself down from this, I cant bear it and I swim for the shore as fast as my flailing doggy paddleing skills will take me there. I have no base for this fear, that I know of, other than maybe I watch too much T.V. I have never seen a dead body in the lake, not once, I also have never been chomped on by underwater monsters other than maybe a few trout nibbles. Also in a lake full of people, why would I be the one that would get munched?  I have also never seen a lake monster or met or heard any credible stories of someone being lake monster food. So there is no reason for my fear, and I can tell myself that as many times as I want to, it doesn't ever seem to help.
I always use the term irrational fear because phobia seems like some kind of mental diagnosis to me and I don't feel like I live my life incapacitated in any way. I would however like to not have that choking fear feeling because going to the lake with the family is a very common fun thing to do in the summer. So I did some research oh how irrational fear forms and I found a few tips on how to treat your phobia. Now I cant remember an event in my childhood that would trigger this learned fear, and as I stated earlier I have had no current traumatic experiences either. However just because I cant trace the origin of this fear does not mean I have to live with it. I am going to give these tips a try, and if you have some fears that you could do with out you should as well!

#1. Face your Fear one step at a time. This sounds easy enough, avoidance wont eliminate the problem. perhaps familiarity with the lake and water will help me to feel less anxiety. I have heard it said before that people fear most that which they don't know. And to be honest, I don't know with out a doubt that there are no dead bodies in the lake, but if there is why is it so darn scary?

#2. Learn Some relaxation techniques. This is a good one! I have never been scared and relaxed at the same time, so this must work. Deep breathing and self affirmations are probably a great start.

#3. Challenge negative thoughts. Ok this seems like a good idea and one I haven't actually tried before. I challenge the validity of most things. Things I hear in the news, random nonsensical conspiracy theories, the weather prediction on my phone, my relation to certain pea-brained siblings (just kidding you know i love you guys!). So why not challenge a negative thought as it is about to envelope me in panic?

For more information about these tips and to learn about phobias and fear, there is a ton of stuff out there but I got my info from this site, check it out  its pretty helpful. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/phobia_symptoms_types_treatment.htm

So my solution to conquering the Southern Oregon wilderness in all of its beauty has been a strict after hiking de-contamination protocol, and to buy a lovingly used, ugly canoe! I may not be able to get rid of my fear, but I can find ways around it!! Roy and I took the Canoe out on the lake on Friday for the first time. We chose Howard Prairie Lake, terrible Idea!!! Neither one of us had been there and it turns out there is enough wind there for it to be a regular area for sailing, not to mention it was huge!!! So we manage to get the canoe off of the jeep together, and get it put in to the lake. As we were navigating and rowing out of the marina dodging giant sail boats, I had a moment of panic. I thought "OMG what if I hate canoeing!" I turned to Roy and said, "this is kind of scary"
After a bit of gentle re-assuring I was calmed down and in paddle mode. As it turns out having a little bit of canoe between me and the lake does help quite a bit. So this is my first step in facing my deep dark lake fear. Next Time I go out I will work more on the relaxation and affirmetions and challenging my negative thoughts!

Being a better Blogger!

I am wanting to take my blog more seriously! I have redesigned and very optimistic about it! I always say this but I am committed to trying to write about my adventures as much as actually having the adventures! I need to make more time to immortalize my amazing escapades! So I am committed to get over this tremendously itchy poison oak that I got two weeks ago while picking up litter on a hike, and I am going to the pair blossom festival! It is this weekend, I am going to take lots pics and I am going to have an adventurous story to tell!