Circus Maximus

I am quite guilty of rolling my eyes at the cult of celebrity that pervades my work place.  I do not need to watch television to know exactly what is going on with the popular ballroom dancing show or the series that features young performers trying to break into the 'big time'.  I can sit and listen on any day to hear about the ups and downs of just about any of the 'reality' shows that draw a wide audience. 

 

For a long time, listening to these conversations, I rolled them into the category of worthless tripe and went on.  What could it possibly matter to me what happened in these contrived entertainments?  Like one of my blessed teachers, who has since gone through the veil, I viewed these shows as part of the 'circus maximus', events that are designed to keep the general populace entertained and unaware while 'Rome' falls down around their ears. 

 

Last night, my Taoist teacher mentioned that those of us who work in cube farms have a perfect opportunity to practice a sort of monastic lifestyle and I wanted to try putting that idea into practice this morning.  When I came in to work, I spent a few moments in meditation and then set about my work day, focusing, today, on taking things one at a time and doing them mindfully. 

 

Then . . . some of my workmates came in and began discussing one of those shows. 

 

For a moment, I found this irritating.  I do not care about this stuff and, as I said above, I have a pretty low opinion of these diversions.  When I stopped myself, though, and thought about this, I realized that these shows fill a very important part in the lives of my workmates no matter my opinion.  Like romance novels, these trips into the world of celebrity provide adventure and romance for these folks, even if it is only in their imagination.  Who am I to criticize if my colleagues want to spend a couple of hours diverting themselves with dreams of dancing or romancing or even being a sports superstar?

 

I still think that we pay these celebrities ridiculous amounts of money that could be better used elsewhere and I still have some serious reservations about entertainment that purports to be reality when, in fact, it is anything but.  However, I think that perhaps it is cruel of me and a little arrogant to act so superior when faced with these entertainments.  It seems that the universe is trying to lighten me up . . . again!