I was in a donut shop the other day, just getting coffee…really, and a group of old guys were sitting around steaming each other up over some current political debate. I used to be like that. I had to have my daily fix of CNN, Fox, Rush and Beck. While I was on top of current events and could debate the issues with the best of them, I arrived home every evening jittery and in need of feeding in another line of news drip before bed. I had become a junkie.

Then I decided there were plenty of other old guys who could do all that worrying and deliberating for me. Now I’m calmer, more fun to be around and instead of constantly looking for a fight with a liberal, or just another white-eyed, right-winger, I’ve come to realize there is life after politics. I’ve created my own “two-step plan” to recovery. Two steps are plenty if they’re basic enough.

So, #1: when it comes time to vote, I’ll read up on the issues and cast my opinion. And #2: until then, I just plan on grabbing my coffee, tipping my hat to old guys gnashing their teeth in the corner and enjoying another day of  stress free conversation with friends and family about things that matter in the longer term.

Politics will always be there if you need a fix. But for now, I just prefer to go cold turkey.