Thanks Obama. No seriously, THANKS OBAMA.

Back when I moved to Colorado, I was wrapping up my Master’s Degree in Health Administration, and I had no idea where it would take me. I knew I wanted to keep learning, I wanted to make a difference, and I wanted to help people. It was an online program that I hit hard when working night shift in the lab at my first job as a clinical laboratory scientist in Chicago. Keeping my eyes propped open with toothpicks, I would write entries on the implementation of Obama Care (also known as a damn revolution in healthcare, for the better), watching Barry singlehandedly kick everyone’s asses and take progressive thinking to the next level.

Side note – If you have your heart set on keeping American healthcare costly, confusing, and only accessible to the rich, I welcome compelling arguments in my direction.  Anyone who lobbies for American healthcare to stay the same is a fascinating beast to me, like a mythical creature or a car wreck that you cannot look away from, and I want to learn more about them.  My hunch is that this group of people probably has not ever read a single bit of information on why our current system is absolutely terrible, however, I do not like to assume or put people in stereotypical buckets, but it is hard not to do that with this one.  Sure everyone, keep fighting for higher bills, less help, and for all of us to die a bit sooner than we normally would since we do not have universal access to basic necessities and support.  That sounds wise….not.  Again, I welcome, and appreciate all perspectives, so if you want to school me on this one, go right ahead.  My only ask is that we have a beer or a whiskey while we talk it over to keep things exciting.  

Quit [Power]Playing Games With My Heart

When completing my master’s degree coursework, I would write stuff, and I would get A’s on my papers, because that is what happens after you procrastinate for four weeks and then spew out a 10-page paper days before it is due, editing it in hours before the deadline, and I would think to myself, man, I really like learning about this.  I thought, when I graduate, I am going to help so many people and make so many differences.  I might have been a tad off on that theory…

You see, the class they forgot to sign me up for (or even have on the course list), was “How to Play the Game.” That lesson came from the School of the Hard Knocks, which I am still attending, thank you very much. No one prepared me for the Game. No one told me that at 30(ish) years old, a middle-aged man in a director role would tell me “Oh you want to be director, oh that is a reach,” even though I met all qualifications for the role.

Not one person warned me that the same slimy lizard would tell me that I was “power-playing” him when I asked him to involve more stakeholders on a discriminatory decision he was making.  Spoiler alert – he made the decision without involving anyone else, and he got promoted for limiting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  Gasp!  Shriek!  Are we really surprised here?  What a meatball.  On top of that, when I brought this to the head of HR’s attention, A FEMALE MIGHT I ADD, she backed him, saying that we do not always have to agree with every decision, but at the end of the day, we all have to walk out of that meeting rooting for the idea that was chosen.  What a load of nonsense that was.  If it is a wrong decision, if it is not the right thing, we do not have to agree with anything.  Quit trying to control our thoughts. 

Great Expectations

My husband, I have so many kind words to say about him, but I know that you know that I know that you know how much I love him, so we will refrain from writing a love letter since this blog entry is about people being ridiculous, and he is not one of those people, he would always say to me, “I am not sure why you are always surprised when people act indecent.  You always think people will be different, but they disappoint you.”  He is so right; I acknowledge that skewed expectations is a problem I have.  I like to think that the world operates with integrity.  That everyone is fighting the good fight.  Truth is, very few of us are, and those who are, I love that we are friends, and I thank you for your participation.  I look forward to meeting more of you lovely gems as I age and experience life.  The sad thing is, there are not enough of us to go around.  So if you are one of those people, continue making your mark on this world, because if you do not, the balance will go off-kilter, and the world will explode into a million tiny pieces since the terrible people are going to have power-hungry battles and will end up blasting us all into oblivion. 

Back to what the hubs said….I am practicing on lowering expectations for humanity.  Taking it a step further, I am not expecting anything from anyone.  It has taken me years to get a feel for humans, and I am spellbound by their many behaviors and tendencies.  People can be absolutely awful to each other, especially if a personal gain is involved.  It is mind-boggling, not to mention terrifying.

Hate the Game, but Know the Game

So here I sit, trying to cope with the fact that evil lurks in all corners, and there really is no way out of it.  Sure, integrity and kindness can be found if you look hard enough, but ultimately we must admit and accept that the world is run by a bunch of assholes, and that, my friends, is why you MUST learn how to play the Game.

Here are some tips I have learned when playing the Game:

• Listen, a lot, listen to people and find out what their motives are before opening your mouth.
• Observe, watch, peep, ask to shadow people, find out what in the hell is going on, infiltrate, inquire, be curious.
• Know that people love to talk about themselves.  This helps with the creeping. 
• Ask an absurd amount of questions.  Also, ask questions that let them know that you know what they are up to.  Ask them questions they cannot seem to answer.  Put them on the spot, and make them share with the world that they are awful.
• Let them know that you are a Fighter for Good.  It will blow their mind, and they will be scared, because they will realize they let you in for long enough that you cannot easily be removed.  Think of yourself as a barnacle.  Just keep hanging on.

Keep living that sweet, sweet barnacle life, and it will take you far, my people.

How do you play the game?

Listening to: Poison Trees by The Devil Makes Three

Watching (still, because I still kind of work and have kids..): The Knick, HBO, Clive Owen, early 20th century medical breakthroughs, addictive personalities. Full send.