Living the hyperbolic, superlative life

Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Superlative: of the highest quality or degree.

 Right off the bat, let me say that in my humble opinion, listening to others living this kind of life is nothing short of exhausting!  Virtually every other word out of our President's mouth or off his fingertips as he types is either hyperbole or superlative.  What makes it even more exhausting is his limited supply of hyperbolic words and superlatives.  GREAT.  TREMENDOUS.  TERRIFIC. THE BEST. SMART. AMAZING. HUGE. DANGEROUS.  STUPID.  WEAK.  LOSER. BAD. Am I missing any?

 It also seems to me that as a society, we have decided that good enough is no longer great.  We don't simply have a good time, it was THE BEST NIGHT EVER.  The meal at the restaurant wasn't just good, it was THE MOST DELICIOUS THING I EVER ATE.  The movie?  BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE I'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.

 All this OUTLOUDness is wearing me out.

 Don't get me wrong.  I have so much in my life to be grateful for and all my problems, if not little annoyances, fall into the category of first world issues.  They just don't seem to me to be, daily, worthy of the hyperbole or superlative that it feels as if the rest of mankind is operating under.

 What's wrong with things being okay?  Good?  Fine?  Why do we feel compelled to hold ourselves to this standard of outdoing every day, nay, every moment with something that surpasses what we just experienced or did or saw or ate?  I mean, come on already!  What ever happened to being satisfied?

 I suppose expressing satisfaction isn't particularly interesting fodder for social media.  Maybe that's a reason why we're all so intent on living the hyperbolic, superlative life.

 Today, on the 4th of July, I'm going for the LDC--the lowest common denominator.  I recognize that is a mathematical term but it also is useful in describing what might provide you with a sense of well being.  There's a wonderful children's book, Five Minutes Peace, where the mother in the story just wants five uninterrupted minutes in the bathtub.  Have you seen the commercial for Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies?  The mother in that spot, also in the bathroom, is a great example of going for the LDC: sitting outside her tub with a cookie--and no children.  The skies appear to be clearing which means I will be able to sit outside in the sunshine with my book.  I'm hoping for a half hour as the LDC and that good enough will be great.  

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