by Michele Tester
“Chomping at the Bit”

I don’t know about you, but I constantly feel like I’m being rushed and pushed to the next “thing.” Whatever happened to basking in the moment, enjoying the season you are in? It seems that we are constantly being reminded to be mindful, to live in the moment, seize the day; you read about it, see plaques that display the wise advice, and hear people talk about it. Yet, to be honest, to me it feels like we are living in a time where society is screaming at us to hurry along and get ready for whatever is next; “don’t” live in the moment is being shouted to me from every rooftop. Hurry up, why don’t you?

Society is chomping at the bit, and, whether we realize it or not, we are being sucked right into the scurry.

When I was young, it seemed like summer lasted so long. It was a magical time of playing outside, running and jumping, riding bikes, swimming, and simply being carefree. It seemed like society, as a whole, welcomed and embraced the slow, simple time. Yes, I know I was just a kid; and, in a kid’s mind, summer probably did feel like it went on forever—not rushed, not demanding. But, lately, I feel as though I’m witnessing something else emerging: Society has other ideas about time and season, and I’m not liking them one smidgen.  

Over the past several years, I’ve noticed the slow trickle of stores displaying holiday merchandise and decor a bit earlier and earlier. That trickle has now erupted into a full-fledged soaking. Can I emphasize again that I don’t like it one bit?

This summer, I noticed my pool rafts from last year were worse for the wear. No amount of the “repair” tape that comes with purchasing a pool float—which, by the way, has never worked for me—was going to repair them. So, I decided to head to the store to buy some new pool rafts…in July. There were a couple of things about this excursion that got into my craw. Number one: the shelves were already pretty scarce of pool and summer accessories. Number two: the shelves were scarce because they were starting to stock them with Halloween merchandise. I mean, is it too much to ask to buy a summer pool raft…in July? It’s still summer, people.

It gets worse. On my trips to various stores in July and August to search for assorted pool and summer items, not only did I see Halloween stuff, but I also saw Christmas decorations and displays already out.

What is going on, and how did we get here?

In society’s mixed message of “living in the moment” and “mindfulness,” implying to us that it can have positive effects on our mental and physical health—all the while pushing us and urging us on to the next thing—something has gotten out of whack. And I feel like “they” slid it right past me. Slid it right by me before I could even offer a protest.

I couldn’t even look at all the Christmas stuff already out this summer when I went into a store. It was just too soon. If I want to buy some items I see in stores as early Christmas gifts, great. I love Christmas; it’s my favorite holiday. But, decorations in July and August? Come on. All the holidays are overlapping in stores, blurring each other out.

I believe we are all too “rushed” these days. And what does that rushing feeling produce? You got it: stress and anxiety. We are all so thrust toward getting to that next “thing,” that we forget about enjoying what we are in right at this very moment. Like maybe floating on a pool raft in a pool, leisurely enjoying a hot, summer day. Although, that’s hard to do when you don’t have anything to float on, but I digress.

So, why do the store chains display holiday merchandise way—like abnormally early—before the actual holiday? Here are a few reasons they might tell us: (1) To appeal to shoppers who like to start their holiday shopping early; (2) Early holiday decorations may help shoppers get into the holiday spirit and ponder their gift lists; and (3) Stores may put out Christmas decorations if they have leftover Christmas inventory from the previous year. Yet, I think we can all probably agree on the number one reason they do. Drumroll, please. Money.

I’m not sure how to stop this trajectory we are on. Who’s to say we won’t start seeing Halloween and Christmas displays in stores starting in May? And, while on the subject of holidays, whatever happened to good ole Thanksgiving? Lost in the shuffle. But, that’s a whole other topic.

Anyway, maybe this “pushing” and “shoving” going on doesn’t bother you. Maybe you love seeing Christmas displays in July. Me? I’m tired of being pushed and shoved. I long for earlier times when it wasn’t so rushy-rushy. When summer was summer. To be honest, I believe all this pushy-pushy, rushy-rushy stuff is making people more grumpy, angry, and downright rude. But, that’s a whole other topic, too.

I feel like we have to have some boundaries. Stop pushing this stuff on us. Let us enjoy the moment, sit in the season, and not jump ahead all the time. Maybe, we have to begin to stand up and resist against society elbowing us to move it forward faster. Stop buying into all its subliminal “get to the next thing” messages. Maybe only then could we all slow down a bit, rejuvenate, and actually savor the season we are in.

But, that’s just my two cents.