As you all know, about 14 months ago, I went into political recovery and enrolled in nursing school. And, all good recovery programs have steps. Since it’s been a while I thought I would check and see how I’m progressing through the recovery process. My comments are in bold below.
1. Admit you are a politico
Done via blog.
2. Quit
Done.
3. Remove all political paraphernalia from on/in your car. i.e. bumper stickers and yard signs that are 2 elections old.
Done—14 months ago, and it’s stayed politically clean. My car is a mess right now, but it is free of political paraphernalia.
4. Find a sponsor who understands and will quit too. Don’t be afraid to call said sponsor when the urge to engage in meaningful political activity comes upon you. Someday, you will return to being a civically minded citizen. Today is not that day.
Done, done, and done. Had to call about once a day when I felt the sucking, black vortex of politics wooing me, but I made it. Not sure when the return to civically minded citizenship will resume, but I still vote.
5. Don’t show up for any political events. Ever. No parades, no literature drops, no debates, no informative meetings, no fundraisers, no organizational meetings.
It’s been 14 months and counting.
6. Stop reading 17 news blogs a day.
Down to 1-3 plus Twitter. I did limit the number of politicos I could follow to 50 or less—1/4 of the total people I follow. That seems reasonable.
7. Unsubscribe to at least 5 news lists/discussion groups.
Done.
8. Un-friend or stop following half of your political contacts on Facebook and Twitter—simply because they are contacts not friends.
Done. Friend count went down. A lot.
9. Read a non-political book. Author’s that may not be read: Limbaugh, Beck, O’Reilly, Coulter, and Gingrich; books that have the words “Liberals,” “Are,” “Destroying,” “America” in the title may not be read either. Try a novel.
Read Atlas Shrugged.
10. Get a hobby. Preferably one that includes at least one of the following: copious amounts of glue, tape, or fabric or Fantasy Football.
I now knit.
11. Do not, under any circumstances text former political contacts to “check in” and “see what’s going on.” They will suck you back in.
Only did it once in the last 14 months. That’s good right?
12. Write a book or movie about your experiences.
Maybe when I’m done with nursing school.
Considering that I only have 1 yard sign in my yard, and that the Primary Election is less then a month a way, this feel pretty good.
