I asked Jeeves where the phrase “used to” came from and he didn’t know.
Used to – what one did on a regular basis in the past, as in: “I used to go fishing every weekend, until I realized the fish dies when taken out of the water.”
Used to – what one has gotten familiar with (to), as in: “I have gotten used to his everyday clichés, so much so I do not notice them anymore.”
Used to – the purpose of something, as in: “The wedding march song is used to signal when the audience should stand to honor the bride.”
The usages of “used to” that could be described as my muse this morning, is the second one. What we humans can get used to. I have gotten used to trash littering the sidewalk on my way to work. This does not mean I like it, it means that I expect it, it is familiar and so it is no longer shocking and soon I fail to notice it. I just walk over it. My job used to be horrible. My job has not changed. I have. I have gotten used to sitting in a cubicle for 8 hours a day. I have gotten used to not seeing the sun or knowing what the weather is like outside. I have gotten used to inter-office gossip, so much so that I sometimes crave it. I have gotten used to mediocrity. I have gotten used to wishing 5 out 7 days of my life away.
This human adaptability is amazing and awful at the same time. If we could not get used to the status of things, we might die of frustration. But at the same time awful to become numb to the status quo, when the status quo has no business being so. Like everyone at work uses plastic spoons to stir their coffee and eat their lunch and then throw them away like it doesn’t have lasting effects on the environment and so I get used to this behavior and start practicing it myself. (I have stopped (mostly) mind you. Earth Day reminded me of my responsibility to the environment and now I have posted flyers in the break room regarding plastic spoon usage to raise awareness).
And what about the things one can not get used to. Does it reflect the negativity of the situation or the sensitivity of the person, or both? In the movie the Shawshank Redemption, Red is in prison for so long he is used to asking permission to use the bathroom, and therefore when he is released he can not urinate with out the permission of his boss, even though he no longer needs permission for his bodily functions.
Many people are cavalier about driving. It is an everyday occurrence for many people (especially in Los Angeles). They have become so used to being behind the wheel they do not realize the severity of the power, the vehicle, and the speed they are wielding. They do not attribute the Spiderman saying, “with great power comes great responsibility,” because the power of driving has seemingly lost its power because it is an every day function. This seems normal. It is something I should get used to. Should I be able merge onto the freeway with out fearing my life and saying a prayer? Should I be able to drive my friends with out the stiffness in my elbows that comes with the fear that I have their lives in my hand? Should I be able to get into a car without thinking about death? This just something I haven’t gotten used to. Traveling 75+ mph seems inhuman. Sitting in a cage of upholstery and metal brings images of the collapse of the Roman Empire. I exhale and inhale on the faith that there is more oxygen for my lungs feast on. I turn right, left, stop and go on the faith that the road will not disappear from under the car, that green always means go (after the hesitation to elude any LA drivers who have redefine that first second of red to be ‘speed up now’).
Post Script: Please drive safely.
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