The Time Is Now

How many times have you heard this?

A billion?

I know.

Probably about as many times as you have heard, “It’s now or never.”

Don’t you hate it when you hear something over and over again only to realize that it is true?

It’s so cliché.

But so true.

*puke

I am going to teach you a word today. I am assuming I know more than you, I am assuming I know around

the same amount as you, and I had to look this up.

The Word Of The Day

The word: inure

Pronunciation: en — yoor

Definition: accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.

How?

I know what you’re thinking, why and how would you get used to something unpleasant?

Here is the how: time, repetition, frequency.

Here is the why: time, repetition, frequency.

Wait, that’s the same thing?

I know.

I am not trying to be a wise-ass, I promise.

This is the backbone of my whole article.

No matter how bad something is, or how ugly, or in the way, unsafe, unhealthy, or anything else negative, the longer it is there, the more you see it, the more you become accustomed to it, the more you get used to it.

Before you know it, it’s normal.

It is no longer bad, or ugly, etc.

It is what it is.

You are used to it.

You have become inured to it.

Now it won’t change.

Because now you don’t need it to.

Examples

I will get progressively more extreme with each one.

1. The light in the bathroom needs replacing: After a while, it’s not laziness, you have just gotten used to the bathroom being a little bit darker. What’s the big deal? I see this all the time in January and February (speaking of lights). If you don’t take your lights down by January 1st, or the first weekend in January, they will be up until Easter (and if they are up until Easter, you might as well just keep them up all year, right?). You’ve been inured.

2. That extra 20 lbs you noticed when you tried to wear your clothes from last season. You know you need to lose it. You understand what extra weight does in terms of health. You keep meaning to sign up for the gym, eat healthier, drink a little less, but you keep putting it off. Maybe you are just big boned? Maybe it is just part of getting older? You make excuses. You put it off. You buy new clothes that fit. Problem solved! Right? Then the 20 lbs stays there. Then it’s 25. Then it’s 30. Then it’s 50. Voila! You’re inured.

3. You never thought in a million years that he would hit you. Sure he started yelling at you and putting you down a few month in to your relationship. But hitting? No way. Instead of leaving you rationalize it. If he is not an asshole, it must be his work stress, or money stress. Maybe it’s me? Then it happens again. And again. You learn to cover it up, deal with it. You don’t like it, but you get used to it. You just need to learn how to navigate around him when he is in a bad mood, or drunk, or high. No big deal. Now you are in an abusive relationship. You have become a battered wife. You have become the headlines in the news, a victim. How did this happen? You became inured.

We Do This All The Time

This is nothing new.

In fact, with it being political season, I think the race is a great example.

We got used to Trump.

We have seen him constantly for 30 years. That brash, egotistical, ass that we saw 30 years ago has somehow become a beacon of light for a YUGE number of Americans.

How in the hell did that happen?

It has gotten to a point that “Donald being Donald” gives him the freedom to say some of the craziest s*** I have ever heard from a “serious” politician and people are okay with it.

He is bringing mass deportation (impossible), building walls (impossible and stupid, not sure which is more), blocking religious groups (racist, bigoted, etc.), grabbing pussies (crime), and insinuating that polls are rigged and that the second amendment should be used on those who oppose him (inciting a riot, suggesting murder, creating divisions).

We are okay with that. It is not shocking anymore.

Trump is the best example of our ability to inure.

We got used to him. Now he's our president.

Think about that.

The Time Is Now

Why is the time now?

Why is it now or never?

Because of our ability to inure.

Humans are amazing. We are resilient. Our ability to adjust and adapt is unparalleled on this planet.

But what if we are adjusting and adapting when we should be turning around? When we should be going the other way, or another direction at least?

But we don’t.

If we let it happen once we are opening the door for it happening twice, then three times, then four.

Pretty soon, it just is what it is.

Inured.

We got used to it.

We don’t notice it any more.

It is right in front of us and we can’t even see it for what it is.

Get Action

Sit down right now. Make a list of everything you have been meaning to do and haven’t gotten around to. Now take one step, today, to do one thing, for each of those things. Build up some momentum and “get action.” Start doing right now. You will get used to it if you don’t. You have gotten used to it up to this point.

Break the cycle and get action.

It may be big.

It may be small.

But the time is now.

- Joey