How to Live a Life of Quiet Desperation
September 15th, 2006 by Christine Kane
Thoreau said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
(He forgot to mention what the women do. I guess we just watch.)
Here, after several days on the road, performing, teaching a workshop, and watching America out the windows of my rented mini-van, is my full and comprehensive step-by-step guide for how to live your very own life of quiet desperation.
1. Let jobs, marriages, friendships, life, and events happen to you. Never make choices.
2. Complain about how jobs, marriages, friendships, life, and events have all happened to you and that you’ve never had a choice.
3. Believe that pharmaceutical companies know what you need.
4. Gossip about your co-workers, your brother’s wife, or your best friend.
5. Watch Fox News.
6. Believe Fox News.
7. When someone asks you a question, like, “So, why did you major in that?” or “What do you want to do?” shrug and stare at the floor. If possible, try to add the universal three-note “I don’t know” grunt as an accompaniment.
8. Post Murphy’s Law signs in your workplace.
9. Stay cynical because it’s so cool.
10. Live for weekends.
11. Say, “I have to stay here. I get full benefits.”
12. Believe your fears.
13. Don’t go out to see plays or live music.
14. Don’t listen to the voice in your head that says, “I can’t do this anymore. I’m dying inside.”
15. Trash your spouse or partner to your friends.
16. Eat at Sonic Drive-In.
17. Think Sonic Drive-In has good food.
18. Trade in your rake for a leaf-blower.
19. Marry someone “because she’s hot,” or “because he has a great ass.”
20. Never get uncomfortable.
21. Watch TV while you eat dinner with your wife or family.
22. Hold onto anger as long as possible.
23. Don’t get a dog.
24. Give a crap what Paris Hilton is doing this week.
25. Feel deeply betrayed and pissed off when The Weather Channel’s forecast isn’t accurate.
26. Feel deeply betrayed and pissed off when your connecting flight gets cancelled.
27. Seek security above all else.
28. Believe that security exists.
29. Take Dr. Phil’s advice about finding security.
30. Let rejection, a bad review, or a rude comment stop you from following your heart.
31. Never let the shrubs in your yard stray a single branch beyond that perfect sno-cone shape.
32. Criticize songs, movies, art or writing when you’ve never written a song, made a movie, painted a picture or written a thing.
33. Download songs for free instead of paying a measly 99 cents for them.
34. Don’t just read People Magazine. Absorb People Magazine.
35. Don’t swing on playground swings once you become an adult.
36. Expect very little.
37. Try to fix other people.
38. Do it for the money.
39. Do it for the approval.
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September 15th, 2006 12:29 pm
Hey Christine,
You forgot to add, “the more drama you can get yourself stuck into, the more popular and successful you’ll be.”
Thanks, these cracked me up! Happy travels.
September 15th, 2006 5:00 pm
Is the weather channel ever accurate?
I enjoyed reading your list.
I thought of you the other night as I tried writing a song. I find the I can write “better” when I am emotional, and I was very emotional. (My grandma passed away last week). I haven’t gone back to read what I wrote. (I just stopped myself from saying “but I’m sure it wasn’t any good.”) I’ll have to go back and read it. It’s not done anyway.
So, even when I am not reading your blog and I am lying in bed trying to write songs, I think of you and your words.
September 15th, 2006 5:13 pm
Good list… So, for those of us who don’t watch, what did dr. phil advise about security?
September 15th, 2006 5:53 pm
Thanks for the addition Susie!
Hey PTC, I’m sorry about your grandma. And congrats on writing a song!
sundeep… really, i have NO idea!
September 15th, 2006 8:17 pm
too true and too funny at the same time. barb
September 16th, 2006 12:02 am
Christine,
Have you been reading my journal? Finally, someone is saying what I am thinking.
Choices…hmmm. Mine have not been so good lately. The guy I wanted to bring to your Ashville concert…not a good choice for me (even though I find him hot and think his butt is great). I will come alone and absorb every note without the distraction. It is my first time to see you live.
I am crying as I say this, but this girl who used to follow her heart has lost it somewhere between men, friends and family who have tried their best to suck all of the life out of me and destroy the very things that make me, well me. And as much as I believe in love, I WON’T lose me just to have someone in my life. Thanks for the reminder.
Excuse me while I go swing on the playground and sing as loud as I can.
Kimberly
September 16th, 2006 12:29 am
Hey Barb…thanks! Glad you like it!
Hiya Kimberly. It sounds like you need a good long cry and lots of compassion. When you realize you’ve made choices that aren’t for your highest and best good, sometimes there’s fall out, for sure. I understand totally. And I’m happy you’ll be at the show October 13. And yay for you for coming without any guy! Please be sure to come up to the CD table at the end of the night and introduce yourself. You need a big hug!
September 16th, 2006 12:45 pm
sometimes you crack me up in unexpected ways…this list is one of them!
September 16th, 2006 10:59 pm
Oh! Oh! (hand waving furiously from the back of the room) can I get in on this too? Behave like folks do on “reality” tv. (I can’t watch those shows – the people are so mean…) Or on soap operas! Or just about any tv show, for that matter. I’d better stop before this gets truly negative! It is time to have the cable turned off.
Be in a hurry all the time and tailgate everyone who gets in your way. Okay, I’m done. I promise.
See you in Cary.
September 17th, 2006 3:16 am
[...] Christine Kane presents How to Live a Life of Quiet Desperation posted at Christine Kane – Blog [...]
September 17th, 2006 1:34 pm
Marty… well, thanks!
mk, thanks for the contributions. (remember that the title of this was “how to live a life of quiet desperation”…not “how to really trigger mk” !! that’ll be the next post!)
September 17th, 2006 5:37 pm
Aww (wo)man! You see through me every time. That next post could be really scary – you might wanna reconsider.
September 18th, 2006 11:49 am
Christine – I just wanted to let you know what a great evening we had Friday at your concert. Wendy and I loved your show and your music – and I know Mike did, as well. Thanks for the laughs and the hugs!
September 18th, 2006 12:48 pm
Hey Tom…Well, thanks right back for taking a chance and coming to see me perform. It was really an honor to have you all there.
September 18th, 2006 5:10 pm
Sonic DOES have good food!
Especially chili cheese dogs and tater tots. What can I say, we all have weaknesses!
~Heidi
September 18th, 2006 5:17 pm
hi heidi… okay, so obviously a few of these are simply my own little rants!
September 22nd, 2006 1:07 am
[...] How to Live a Life of Quiet Desperation – Christine has an entertaining list of how to live a life of quiet desperation. I took exception to the one about the dog, but number 25 is a keeper:-) [...]
October 4th, 2006 11:28 pm
An excellent list. I laughed at the mention of Fox (or “Faux”) News. According to this PBS quiz, 63% of American families usually eat dinner in front of the television. Very sad. Can it count as a family dinner that way? As for the swings, I still love to do that. Haven’t done it in a while, though. I may need to fit it into my schedule very soon.
October 5th, 2006 12:02 pm
Hi Caryn… Yes, it’s very easy to sit in front of the tv and eat. When I lived alone, (or when I’m on the road getting room service), I challenge myself to just eat. No tv. No reading. Just enjoy food. And it can be a big challenge! Swings are my favorite. There’s a perfect tree swing on the campus of Warren Wilson College (which is near my house) that makes me smile like an idiot every time I’m on it.
October 24th, 2006 9:34 am
[...] Christine Kane presents How to Live a Life of Quiet Desperation posted at Christine Kane. [...]
January 4th, 2007 9:02 am
where have you been while I was browsing blogs? #30 hit the nail on the head. Thank you for this wonderfully humerous and spot on list!
October 11th, 2007 11:57 am
[...] Kane, cantareata si creativity consultant, a scris un ghid pas cu pas despre cum sa iti transformi viata intr-o experienta lipsita de speranta. Unii pasi sunt [...]
October 11th, 2007 2:30 pm
I found this link referenced on reddit.com — very nice and worthy to remember!
October 11th, 2007 6:51 pm
Wow. I am very impressed! This is a wonderful list. (Of what not to do!)
October 13th, 2007 1:04 am
I want you to know that you wasted four more minutes of my lifetime because I had to see what all the fuss about Sonic was about.
Really, Christine, I have to hold you responsible for this!
December 3rd, 2007 12:13 pm
Your a genius but even geniuses miss it sometimes. A double cheesburger from Sonic can be heaven in moderation:).
Peace,
Chris
December 3rd, 2007 2:03 pm
todd – my heart felt apologies. i did that very thing a long time ago – and it was like eating flavored index cards!
chris – i’ll take your word for it! (personally, heaven in moderation is m&m’s)