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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Reading for sport builds mental muscles State will investigate ticket dismissals Alleged rapist said to have stalked victim after crimes Details sought about RV fire outside Gold Hill Made in the Shade Crime, Courts and Emergency Services State will investigate ticket dismissals Alleged rapist said to have stalked victim after crimes Details sought about RV fire outside Gold Hill Woman sentenced in stabbing case Rogue River man dies in Wednesday car crash Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Reading for sport builds mental muscles AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Environment Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow Company fined for illegally dumping asbestos in White City State News Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Economists project 'kicker' rebates Moose spur tough decisions for Washington wildlife officials Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Outgoing Gov. Kitzhaber commutes sentence Nation - World Obituaries Matthew Olin Huff Ruby D. Perkins Arthur �Art� S. Backlund Death Notices Lynn Ann Latham McCoy Lane Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Blazers acquire Afflalo in five-player deal Blazers grieve for popular Kersey Mariota becomes feature attraction at NFL combine Beavers knock off No. 19 Cowboys Goosen, Singh among leaders at Riviera Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers knock off No. 19 Cowboys Raiders to face No. 16 Knights, No. 11 Cavs Young scores 23, Oregon holds off Colorado Duke holds on for OT win Student of the Game Pro Sports Blazers acquire Afflalo in five-player deal Blazers grieve for popular Kersey Mariota becomes feature attraction at NFL combine Goosen, Singh among leaders at Riviera Beloved Blazer Kersey, 52, dies Community Sports Business Latest Stories Dockworkers dispute hits home Medford pharmacy sees steady growth Ride & Drive: 2015 Kia Soul EV Blog: Alaska Airline, brimming with confidence, adding six extended-range Boeing 737s by 2016 Josephine County to approve Southern Oregon business recruiting contract Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: People In Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport flies past January record The heart of Brammo will remain Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Antionette Kerr: Let’s honor Anthony and the rights of all women Kent Bush: Mars One is more reality television than rocket launch Male staffers take lead in Clinton run Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Congress rightly should engage in war debate Editorials Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Our View: A sad end to a historic career Our View: Time to end the vaccine exemption Letters to the Editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 17 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 16 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 15 Columns Kent Bush: Mars One is more reality television than rocket launch Male staffers take lead in Clinton run Congress rightly should engage in war debate Islamic State's atrocities demand ... what? Michael Gerson: A call for 'patient pluralism' Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Ride & Drive: 2015 Kia Soul EV Community blog: Citrus fruits shine in foods fresh and preserved Marketta Gregory: The promise of Lent Food Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Community blog: Citrus fruits shine in foods fresh and preserved Season Stepp: Cooking Chinese food should not intimidate you Page H. Onorato: Food items help define the South There's a whole universe of chili outside Texas Home and Garden Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Home Help: DIY home upkeep projects for every season Health Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines Community blog: Your Brain on Love Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Community blog: Are You Losing or Gaining on Your Investment in Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Theater OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Music The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra 'Broadway's Next Hit Musical' Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW State will investigate ticket dismissals ... Alleged rapist said to have stalked victim after crimes ... Details sought about RV fire outside Gold Hill ... State will investigate ticket dismissals ... Alleged rapist said to have stalked victim after crimes ... Details sought about RV fire outside Gold Hill ... Sharon Myers: Blowing leaves in a windstorm By Sharon Myers The Lexington Dispatch MailTribune.com By Sharon Myers The Lexington Dispatch Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 10:20 am Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 3:07 PM By Sharon Myers The Lexington Dispatch Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 10:20 am Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 3:07 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Every once in a while, I will see things that inspire me in choosing a topic for my column. Last week, I was sitting at a stop light watching a gentleman with a leaf blower trying to clean up his sidewalk on a day when the wind was blowing over 15 miles per hour. At first it was comical watching the man blow a pile of debris out into the road just to have it blown right back by the wind. Personally, at this point, I would have given up and gone to some other task, but this guy just kept chasing one leaf this way and another leaf another way. Just when it seemed he had gotten them all together, a huge gust of wind would come and blow them all back to where they were originally. It struck me this was the modern-day example of the Greek myth about Sisyphus, who was condemned to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, just to have it come crashing back down. Although I’m sure he was frustrated, the fellow just kept blowing the same pile of leaves onto the sidewalk, just to have them come right back two seconds later. I don’t know how long he did this or why he chose the windiest day of the year to blow leaves, but it got me to thinking. How many times in our lives do we do things over and over again, but never get what we expected? Dr. Phil (the TV advice guy) says that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over but expect different results. How many times have we told ourselves I’m not going to call this person because we always end up in an argument? Or I’m not going to argue with my mother when she starts criticizing. We are strong at first, but eventually we break down and do the thing we told ourselves we were not going to do. And guess what? The exact thing happened that you thought would happen. Yet we are still shocked and angered at the results. What is it about us humans that make us gluttons for punishment? Why do we have to push the big red button that says “Do not push!”? I am guilty of it myself. I love the Kickin’ Chicken sandwich at Zaxby’s, but every time I eat one, I become sick to my stomach. I don’t know if it’s the grease or the spicy sauce, but it just doesn’t agree with me. I know this and I remember how bad I felt the last time, but it doesn’t make me change. I “reason” with myself that maybe this time will be different — maybe if I eat it really slowly; maybe if I only eat half, it won’t be so bad. Of course, it is always the same result. I always end up in bed with a tummy ache, although I thoroughly enjoyed eating it. I am a college-educated, fairly intelligent, 40-something mother of two who would point out this fault in another person in a second, but yet I keep doing the same stupid thing over and over. It is just like people who keep going back to their abuser because they say they’ve changed or the alcoholic who says he or she can have one drink. Most of the time, things stay the same as always, but we are disappointed when the outcome isn’t any different than the last time. Do we do it because we hope it will be different eventually, or do we just convince ourselves that we can make something change by wanting it hard enough? Why is it we can recognize what we are doing, can predict exactly what is going to happen, yet choose to do it anyway? It’s insanity. It’s like blowing leaves in a windstorm. You’re just wasting your time, running in circles and not accomplishing anything. Sharon Myers writes for The Lexington (N.C.) Dispatch. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @LexDispatchSM. By Sharon Myers The Lexington Dispatch MailTribune.com By Sharon Myers The Lexington Dispatch Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 10:20 am Updated Feb 16, 2015 at 3:07 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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