Whales outside my daughter's house. To give us all perspective. They arrive each June without fail, following the fish. All the way from South America. Sanity saving.
I am a political junkie. There, I've said. I think that if I don't monitor the news, terrible things will happen and catch me unaware - as if terrible things don't happen every single day and my awareness is not helping the situation in any way, shape or form.
I do other things, of course. But monitoring the news and posting and reading on Bluesky is not helping me. Or others. I need to pull away, skip headlines and hope for the best. I tell myself I'm pretty safe out on this remote rock on the Atlantic Ocean and it's not about me anyway, it's about the next generations following. We will survive these harrowing times. Or we won't. And there's very little anyone can do. The No Kings march in the USA was a prime lesson or how ineffective even massive marches in multiple cities and towns can be. they change absolutely nothing.
And with Carney caving to the Trump pressure and this appalling Big Awful Bill trying to get passed in the US government, things are going sideways on their axis with all of us helpless.
Meanwhile climate change has us by the throat now on our way to extinction so does politics really matter?
I have lots of lovely items on the agenda, activities I could better enhance my outlook with. Some editing, some writing, some knitting, some social engagement.
I need to stop the other stuff eating me alive.
"Stay where my hands are" is where I need to be. Especially now.
Confession over and out - progress will be reported honestly.
Agree: awareness of the shit doesn't change much, if anything.
ReplyDeleteStill always good to seeyou and find out what you're thinking.
Thank you Kate. I found I was nearing despair with it all - and noted a lot of others on line were as well. We give it our best and then we have to run for cover and tend to our own stuff OR succumb to a breakdown.
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It is tough to remain immune to all that is happening in the world today, and I fear greatly for the next 50 years. I just returned from my oldest grandson's wedding and I cannot but conclude that he and his new wife should not even consider having children. That is very sad.
ReplyDeleteMy grandgirl is not having kids either David, she's been with her partner 10 years. The world is unstable and very messy at the moment with never ending wars. It would be a kind of madness to have a child, I feel.
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I'm not sure the No Kings rally did nothing. Contrast it with the birthday parade. People are getting angry. Selling off public lands was removed from the big, awful bill. A progressive has won in a primary. Maine senator Collins has a 14% favorability rating. Medical groups are organizing to oppose Kennedy. The Senate parliamentarian has ruled against some provisions in the big awful bill. Europeans aren't buying Teslas. Ireland has ended coal power generation. There are some wins--we just don't hear about them.
ReplyDeleteWhat sent me over the edge a lot Sheila was the provision on the bill was a provision for the president to cancel an election on a whim. And this has long been foretold in any fascist regime. I do hope the resistance gets bigger and bigger.
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Thank you for writing, and please let us know how it goes. I spend a lot of time reading about what is going on an am horrified, of course, but not depressed or feeling completely hopeless. I write a post every day and try to keep it cheerful and completely nonpolitical. I think you are wise to keep your mental health a top priority.
ReplyDeleteCheerful Monk
DeleteYes, I am going to focus more on the positive and stop neglecting photographs and the other creative pursuits that keep me focussed completely differently.
DeleteThank you Jean.
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I hear you. I watch and listen in horror. And find (temporary) antidotes in the natural world.
ReplyDeleteStay where your hands are is excellent advice - but easier said than done.
I agree but I am committed today to doing so and I think a daily affirmation of purpose and a longer meditation might help me. I felt I was losing it.
Deletethank you Sue!
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RoisinNY here. I participated in the No Kings march. My spirits were lifted, seeing so many people out there, young and old, the able-bodied and the wheelchair bound. I felt THERE IS HOPE. Did Washington notice or give a damn? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you did this Ros, I would have joined you. Of course. Yes, all those crowds were so wonderful, so heartening.
DeleteAnd floodlit his appalling birthday party which was the saddest thing in a long time. He had to throw bombs to get back on the focus on himself.
Hugs and love and I will be in touch soonest.
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I hadn't picked up that Carney had caved in to #47 in any way. Best I take a look. It's always pleasant reading to see #47 in trouble in some manner. As for the marches, the good they can do is to create a mood of discontent among #47 voters, as they physically observe the groundswell against him.
ReplyDeleteYes he caved on the digital services taxation, it's a rotten week all told politically. Good point on the marches.
DeleteThanks Andrew.
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I like to think the marches galvanized us to keep fighting. And maybe added some stragglers to the cause. This country is literally going down the drain, day by day. I also did not realize people in Canada viewed Carney as caving to our idiotic president. The people I know (none of whom are Canadians, though) view Carney very highly. And just on a basic note, listening to him speak is wonderful; oh my god, compare him to Trump, who just spouts nonsense and causes chaos.
ReplyDeleteElle - he's a great speaker but he caved on the digital taxes, thus the American corporations pay no taxes in Canada - Amazon, Zuck, Google et al. His economic knowledge is amazing but this has taken us by surprise. And made us nervous as to the hint of corporate overlords.
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I agree with backing away from headlines and other political stories, they are all gloom and doom, mostly and don't do our minds any good at all, because there simply isn't anything we can do to change their mindset. But we can change our own. The whales are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best years ever for the whales, River, they are there in pods and magnificent leaps and those air bubbles. I need to focus more on all of that and not the underlying rot of our planet.
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Just once I've seen whales in the far distance. Just wonderful. I gave up on the news a long time ago. Too depressing and I have not enough power.
ReplyDeleteI keep minimally informed but I can't hear it all on repeat.
Hang in there and find things to enjoy
I am doing just that Kylie, and am continually amazed at how much I have neglected stuff I love, including the blog world. I took a deep dive into far too much of the energy vampire variety and was becoming sick with worry, useless worry.
DeleteThank you!
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Oh, your post really hit home with me. I was watching and reading way too much politics, so I cut back. I now follow about three newsletters on sub stack, have backed off of Facebook, but I do watch a little news on MSNBC. But it’s so out of control in the US. I’m in Florida, home of the new Alligator Alcatraz, which is so demeaning. In Florida, like Texas, it relies a lot on immigrants for their crops. It’s all just insanity and absurdity. I think the ultimate game plan is to thin out the population.
ReplyDeleteI’m old so I don’t worry about it excessively because like yo, I figure it’s time for the younger generations to step out. And you are so correct about No Kings Day. It was a great thing, but nothing changed and nothing will change. I don’t believe it’ll ever change because people have changed and they have become more racist, right wing, less empathetic hateful.
II try to concentrate on my garden and all my little birds and squirrels that hang out there, a couple of hobbies, and a few really good friends that are like-minded and we all go out frequently for a glass of wine good conversation and dinner. Plus I have a home. I love. I’m a widow and I like the freedom of being able to do as I please.
I’m too old to travel now, but I would’ve loved to have seen Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and the Cabot Trail. I have seen Western Canada, which is gorgeous and luckily traveled most of the US in my younger days. And I did get to Europe, one time on a river, cruise up the Rhine river, which was fabulous.
And I agree that climate change will probably make all of this a moot point and it’s happening faster than people realize. Mary
Good for you on backing away Mary. It's all just too much. I am going to cancel most subscriptions and focus on more inspiring writings and beloved books and good series on streaming. Current favourite is "The Bear" extraordinary writing. I have a short memoir piece to finish on my grandparents and a little bag knitting design I haven't finished. A Canada day function to photograph today also.
DeleteI feel my whole creative world has opened up again with all the constant news, all terrible, shut down by me. I, too, loved my many vacs in the States and I worked for a time in Florida, Miami. Much much different to the last time, in New York when Homeland Security pulled me in for the audacity of carrying two passports. It was horrific. I've never been back. A huge change. Gone are the days when we'd be down in Buffalo for the weekends with no passports or visas. Just a welcome. Whgat have we all become? Well not all. But the darkest among us are now encouraged. And the whitening of America has begun.
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I almost stopped following the news some time ago. It does not change anything but my sanity. Keep writing!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Charlotte, thank you. And well done on your detachment from it.
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I have limited my consumption of news as well. I can't fix it, can't even impact it even slightly. I am doing my best to keep my little corner sane.
ReplyDeleteI have the feeling that many of us are pulling away Sue. I was watching all those substacks, rolling the opinions over and over and then the news cycles, I felt my soul being sucked out of me. Alligator Alcatraz was the final nail in the coffin so to speak with all those right wingers salivating in their egregious excitement. Pulling the plug on all of it is a relief.
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Very happy to see you back and fighting the cause of sanity; we’re going to need it.
ReplyDeleteI prefer silence to never ending news.
I sit down with a stiff drink once a day and watch one reputable news channel for almost an hour then that’s it.
No more Instagram either although my countless nieces and nephews prioritize it.
So no more me saying - “I saw you grew tomatoes this year” but rather “have you been growing any veg this year?”
It’s different but much much better. X
I am so very happy that you and the others on here are doing the same thing. I can't believe how much of my time and distress it was taking and the last few days have been very peaceful,more music, more social, more reading of interesting books and peace and quiet now and again, just because it's good for the soul.
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Welcome back Mary. xx
DeleteGlad to see you are still above the grass!
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