The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Recently there was a song running through my mind. I couldn’t place it. So, I delved into youtube to see where the words would lead me. The words that kept repeating in my head were “ Too much monkey business.” I was surprised to find this song was written and performed by Chuck Berry in the fifties. I have never been a particular fan of Chuck Berry’s, but for some reason, this song stuck. I read the words and then had an epiphany. I felt pressure from all sides until I was ready to block all articles, Facebook messages, and ads. Chuck Berry expresses in his song that people are trying to persuade him to do this and that, and he ends by saying,” I don’t want your botheration. Get away from me.” The pressures I feel and witness in everyday life differ from Chuck Berry’s, but boy, do I identify with how he feels. Isn’t it strange my subconscious was making the connection before I consciously did.!!

In present-day life, we always walk a tightrope between the right amount of whatever and too much. People at work are told to work hard and get ahead. But, on the flip side, we are told to keep a balance in life. Don’t work too much. So what is too much? You must make enough money to provide for yourself and your family. That’s understandable. But when does it become too much? When do we trade enough with too much? Or is there never too much money? I guess that depends on what we trade for more money. Back to how much work is too much. Of course, we have people who profess to be wiser than us telling us how much is too much....Too much monkey business.

Exercise is important, we are told. But wait, you can get caught up in exercise too and do too much to the detriment of your body and, yes, your time. We have young, well-to-do people pushing exercise regimens and machines and told we need to do this and that and we too will be in great health. They don’t tell us that, in all likelihood, we will never achieve what they have. Most of us are older and not genetically equipped to achieve those results. The diet culture of our lives is unavoidable. Everyone has the answer to weight loss. Not only that, but they will decide for you if you should lose. It’s been proven heavier people are not necessarily not unhealthy when compared to thinner people. Stop telling everyone they are wrong if they are heavier. Not everyone is born to be a size two, nor do most people wish to be—definitely, too much monkey business connected with exercise and diets.

We train our children to be competitive. Strive to be the best and first. Oh, but wait. We are also told that winning isn’t the most important thing. What are we to believe? What are our children to think? It depends on the monkey you are talking to whether they will tell you to be “ your best” or instead don’t strive to be best; enjoy the ride. Life is more than winning.

So many tell their children from a young age that going to college is of the highest importance. The rich are bribing people to get their kids into the “right school.” But wait. I also hear that many with degrees are not employable. They have high student debt, and even if they get a job, they will be tied to their debt for years. This is because what they trained for does not pay as well as they need it to. Where are the education monkeys now? What about encouraging children to take up a trade instead.? What about not insinuating a person is “less” because they can’t or don’t want to go to college?

The parenting monkeys tell you you must spend lots of time with your children. Not just time but quality time.Fair enough. But wait. Now we are hearing about helicopter parents. The ones who orchestrate everything for their kids till we have students entering college who still have mommy or daddy with them picking out classes, clothes, friends, etc.

Conversely, we have parents advocating the “wild child.” This type of parenting allows children to make all choices. You must reason through everything with them. ( I suspect this might be a tad easier if you just had one child) .Of course, there’s permissive parenting (bad), authoritative parenting (good), and authoritarian parenting. Lots of monkey business going on about raising children. It gives you a headache. Most parents use all three parenting models depending on the mood and situation.

Now you can find real monkey businesses on Facebook. People show you how perfect their family, house, etc., is. How much fun they have on their holiday through many pictures until you wonder where you went wrong. Then there are the woe-is-me people who complain to everyone disclosing details about their life struggles. Details you wish you didn’t know. Everyone has an opinion. At some point, you wish they’d keep it to themselves. You are absolutely inundated with verbal and visual pressures. Everyone wants others to know what they’re doing and when and why. As I say, there is lots of monkey business going on online. Immeasurable what strains these messages and pictures put on others. Don’t let me start with the hundreds of friends who aren’t really friends. But the internet monkeys tell you that having lots of friends online is good.

Of course, most of us are mere amateurs regarding the monkey business. Much of what is said and done is said and done without guile. Three groups are professionals at monkey business, or so I have concluded. The first is most politicians. On and on they go. Who’s to be trusted? Watching one of these masters at monkey business can make your head about to fly off your body. The second group is celebrities. I cringe when I think of the effect most of these idiots have on people, most notably children. Top of the heap has to be the Kardashians. Yet who has made these immoral fools popular? Many people who are fixated on the Kartrashians’ outrageous lifestyles have allowed this family to prosper. They have influenced so many poor souls with their monkey business.

I must wind up this diatribe with a couple who could be called Mr. and Mrs. Monkey Business. Can you guess? It’s Harry and Megan. Talk about a train wreck. They are trying to pull down family in the dirtiest way. Will they ever shut up? Putting your family’s grievances out for the public to consume is low. I guess they will keep bleating as long as they can make money from their ridiculous claims and imagined grievances. They are busy causing pain and suffering to family and make themselves obvious juvenile narcissists. When teaching young children, an early lesson is “keep your hands to yourself.” It would seem some adults need to be told to keep their thoughts to themselves.

Too bad we can’t repeat and have them hear, “I don’t want your botheration. Get away from me.” Too much monkey business for me!” Thank you, Chuck Berry, and yes, I realize I did not keep my thoughts to myself.