I have many reasons to be grateful in this world of ours. I did a list this morning. I also did a list of improvements I could make in my life. Mainly in the arena of taking more time to savour the goodness and beauty around me. Interestingly enough (to me) was the desire to do "less" of things that don't seem to be helpful in any way. One of these was the news. I am a news junkie. I have no idea if this enhances my life in any way. My feeling is it doesn't. I worry about the future I can do nothing about. I think vengeful thoughts on all those who do such horrific harm in the world in the name of (take your pick) religion, land, hatred, vengeance. Count the wars. Count the dead babies and helpless women and men who never did harm to anyone.
I look at the newspaper headlines just now and it's all about a New Orleans massacre by "terrorists" a word which is used oddly. Anyone who kills anyone else is surely a terrorist? But no, it usually means someone "foreign" (read not white) never a local. A husband who kills his wife is a terrorist. We know in our hearts he has terrorized her for years. A man who machine-guns children in their schools is a terrorist, mentally troubled or not. All the headlines are meant to alarm and yes, "terrorize" us by specters of such boogeymen everywhere, hiding in every corner. Keeping us compliant and fearful and looking for a saviour to keep us all "safe." Enter Trump.
Interesting. I never know where my blog posts will take me. Look what one headline can do.
I don't make resolutions. But I will try to be kinder to others, less judgmental. We are all staggering along and it's so easy to love the people that agree with us and far more admirable to love those who do not. I live in a building where it is easy to flaunt my own intelligence and judge others for not being as smart. But "smart" is totally subjective. I do not suffer fools easily and I have a huge challenge in not showing that. Which, of course, is a reflection of my own insecurities. I did not sit in therapists' offices for nuttin ya know.
I think we all work on ourselves until the casket lid slams down. At least I do. I can laugh at myself too which is essential. And we learn and grow. Hopefully. Yearningly.
My blogworld saved my sanity many times. In not feeling alone. Some of you I have gotten so close to over the many years of shared thoughts. Many of you passed on and I miss your pithy insights and dear friendships. But i celebrate all of those wonderful readers who take the time to comment and commiserate and share.
I wish us all gentleness (thank you Kylie for the word!) in the coming year. We will need tons of it.
But more than anything, each other.
Love those carnations in your mother's vase. I have largely stepped away from the news. It does me no good and often fills me with impotent rage and despair.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big YES to kindness. And gentleness. To each other and, which I find harder, to ourselves.
I'm really working on it EC. I started watching a multi-series All Creatures Great and Small on PBS tonight instead of the news. And it's so uplifting. I saw the original series with my children years back and this is a re-do and it's wonderful.
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It is a strange little social world, yet a valid one, that we bloggers have built. Some bloggers disappear forever, and you can care deeply and grieve their absence, others not so much. I remember the lovely poem you sent me when my partner died. The support of bloggers helped me so much in that first month. Happy and healthier new year wishes.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Andrew. I have grieved lost blog buddies and hold dear their last messages to me. And I also grieve their losses. Somehow we find each other, kindred spirits, and it's so heartening.
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Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025 that's full of wonderful moments to cherish. I do not spend more than 30 minutes in the am (sometimes not even that long) just scanning headlines online. My husband is the news junkie in our family and that's OK as at least one of should know how badly the world is doing some days.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking Beatrice that we're nearly better off not knowing as we are powerless anyway having turned the world over to the most evil and narcissistic amongst us. I am going to be more present in my days in my own little world.
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Our last election cured me of being a news junkie, though I still enjoy tidbits of discord among the opposition. You have a happy new year, please.
ReplyDeleteI will have a happy new year Joanne if you agree to have one too. We have to celebrate these wonderful glorious elderly years we have been gifted.
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Yes, wishing you a kind and gentle New Year!
ReplyDeleteBackatcha ain't and may each day be a jewel. 🎉🎉
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As always, a thought-provoking post. While reading your words I feel like I am sitting in the same room with you. I seldom take the time to reflect as you do, as I always seem to be in getting-things-done mode. Maybe it's time to change that.
ReplyDeleteSo here's to a thoughtful, more serene year, Mary. Wishing you good health, and beauty all around you.
I relate. I got a lot of things done today, all of a much needed housework variety and organizing my wee office which was a shambles after the holiday season. It felt good though exhausting. But onward to more such positive days. I wish the same for you GS, a string of treasures to review at year end.
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I agree about the news. It’s all so crazy and horrifying at times. I watch just enough, though I really get most of it from newsletters I subscribe to. But I’m old and there’s nothing I can do about any of it. Big money controls. Always has, always will. As long as I can go out for a glass of wine, a good dinner and good conversation with a few friends, I’m good. Plus my garden and some of the birds and creatures that visit.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your blog and a few others. Nice to feel commonality.
Two blogs I miss that you or some of your readers may have followed are As Time Goes By..Ronnie Bennett (who has passed) and Friko's World and there’s no word there. Mary
Yes, I am familiar with both and also had private emails with both as well Mary. Missed terribly. Along with Irene in Holland and dear Marylyn in Hawaii. So many. I lose track sometimes. Yes Big Money runs everything and the bigger the more control and democracy a total illusion it seems.
DeleteI'm staying where my hands are today!
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Apparently the majority of Americans are turning away from the news. I'm not one of them. I thought this paragraph from a New Yorker article was encouraging.
ReplyDelete"But while Trump may now believe himself so powerful that he can rewrite history on his own behalf, it’s also fair to anticipate that his past will serve not only as prologue but as precedent for 2025. If neither the American voters nor the Republican Party could stop Trump, his many personal weaknesses just might. Presidents, especially second-term Presidents, often stumble. Many occupants of the White House find themselves bogged down in scandal and infighting, victims of their own overreach, hubris, or just sheer incompetence. This was the story of the first Trump Administration, and there is plenty of reason to believe that it will be what happens in his second term, too. Should one root for the failure of an American President? Half of the country, Trump’s half, did this, to great effect, in 2024; in 2025, it will be everybody else’s turn."
Fingers crossed!
Good to see a hopeful comment on the political situation Jean. My greatest fear with the Rumpmaster is that he will declare some sort of emergency, suspend the constitution (which is a nuisance to him anyway) and proceed to autocrat his way around the world. he definitely has his eye on Canada (water, minerals, lumber) and control of Greenland. The checks and balances are gone by-by along with Scotus
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Happy New Year -- wishing you good health, prosperity and peace. Is a good time for self-examination. A wise looking owl! Your mother's vase very attractive. Tibb's Eve most interesting and a unique celebration as you describe.
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking for the best in the year(s) to come but events make it difficult to not expect the worst in too many instances.
I think it's important to note that the U.S. President taking office was elected by less than half of all of our registered voters which is troublesome. All too often with multiple candidates in countries a candidate with fewer votes than the total of all others manages to be elected.
It would be good to see more political parties in the US Joared. It's far less democratic the way it is. Love to see a labour party give them a good run for their money. I see Mark Cuban may be running in 2028. Another billionaire but a more conscientious one, it appears. But I don't think billionaires and conscience go well together. The money greed is staggering with so much hunger and suffering in the world.
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I don't bother with resolutions, I like to keep my expectations low, so then anything good that happens is a nice surprise.
ReplyDeleteMy spirit animal is a turtle but I never see cute turtle ornaments anywhere. I don't need one I guess.
As an old wise shaman said to me one time, River: look for the surprise in each day and it will appear. It's very true. My daughter's is a turtle also.
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I just love that vase full of carnations!
ReplyDeleteI gave up watching the news years ago, my ex used to watch hours of news and tabloid current affairs and it was just so depressing. I still hear headlines of course and thats about all I can cope with.
A gentle and hopefully pleasant year to you, my friend!
Good for you Kylie. I think there is far too much negativity in all of it and very little positive which skews our perception of the world. I'm on board with Bluesky now and its so wonderful to find such positive people in the world growing by leaps and bounds. Hopium for 2025. Backatcha on the good wishes.
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I can only echo ECs words. News are not good for me, and more kindness is sorely needed in he world. And more flowers!
ReplyDeleteMore flowers, more kindness, more positive news, more celebration of the generosity of so many people out there (more of them than the other kind). And more trust that all will be well.
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I read but have been lax in commenting so am here to wish you a Happy New Year WWW (Mary)……you’re back in fine form again. I’ve missed your ‘long and intense’ posts.
ReplyDeleteLike others here I’m hoping your 2025 is filled with good health - especially after the last few years you’ve had - Kylie’s idea of spreading kindness and gentleness is the way to go!
Take care
Cathy
Lovely to hear from you Cathy. I know I have a few lurking readers who break out in song to me periodically. Especially when they connect on a more deeper level with some of my more emotional posts. It's good to rub shoulders with you once in a while!
DeleteBest of 2025, full of little treasured moments!
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With a spirit owl to guide you, I suspect that you will receive wise counsel. I have never made NewYear’s resolutions and I don’t intend to start, but one thing I am absolutely committed to this year is to get off the 24-hour daily news cycle, where every event is analyzed and re-analyzed ad nauseam. Cable news has been a curse, not a blessing. I intend to live out my days without it! All the very best for 2025 - peace, love, tranquility, equanimity and good health. David xo
ReplyDeleteThank you David, I'm on your team, blocking off the over-analysis of every fart our lords and masters make. Living on the edge of each disastrous uttering. I am doing more nourishing things for the spirit and listening to the wise old owl who observes from a distance, alert and ever present just in the moment.
DeleteIf the world blows up, we will all be stardust, some of the worst of us black holes.
But we will sparkle.
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Best wishes for a wonderful new year. Although we are off to a terrible start here; 2 mass shootings/attacks on day 1. Such sadness and rage. I can only image what the next 4 years will bring here in the US.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly dreadful to witness from afar the absolute madness of the gun culture in the US. It is a domestic war zone. And it baffles many of us here knowing most USians do not support it. Turns out these two were US military and Rump is honking emigrants! like a maniac.
DeleteMy heart hurts for you all
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This was like a lovely chat. Beautiful expressions of honesty along with grace. And yes, more All Creatures Great and Small, less news. Thank you for sharing your good writing and life story. Kim in PA (USA)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim. I often feel we get into a grand old chat around the winter fire on my blog. What a gift we all have in connecting around the world.
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I have so enjoyed reading this today, both your message and the comments. It feels like a friendly gathering of like-minded folks. Love your owl, so nice as a spirit animal. Years ago while at a spa I made an effort to identify my spirit animal through something they had available there. I think it turned our to be an
Deleteanimal I'm not particularly fond of--maybe a wolf. They are
beautiful and I wish them well but I had hoped for a more docile
type so didn't pursue it. Back to the news, every day is bad so
have given up reading it. Watch tv some but can always switch
the channel. You take good care, enjoy your wise owl.
news, it's
Thanks Marge! Wolves are splendid creatures. Kill out of hunger only, stay with the same mate for life, never rape or pillage or steal and nurture their pups until they are confident. They have a whole lot to teach humans. They've been given a bad rap to justify the killing for their furs which I think is appalling.
DeleteOnward to 2025 and embrace your wolfdom. They are magnificent.
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