I’m feeling it today. Even though I stopped watching mainstream news years ago its everywhere. I’m being bombarded with bullshit on the alt-media channels too and the people around me in the real world are all talking about what’s going on. It’s just fucking insane to me. I want to rant about it, I want to vent my frustration with it all and add my own spin to try and make sense out of it...but I know I shouldn’t. Other than getting it off my chest and purging myself of it I don’t think it’ll help anyone or anything and it’ll just fuel the outrage. So I stop. Pause. Take a breath. Look for something more constructive to spend my mental and emotional energy on...
I think that’s the right path. I don’t think I can totally ignore what’s going on because that’s also a bit irresponsible, if not impossible. The key for me is to not get overwhelmed by it. I know it’s there, but I am making a choice. A choice to be better. For everyone that’s probably different. I used the image above because being in nature works for me. There is something serene about being surrounded by trees and birds and finding that peace. I’m not really a religious person, but if there is a god then that’s where I see it. In the amazing life of all different kinds that share this earth with me.
I also find peace with the people closest to me. Family and friends. Fun and laughter. Spending time with kind souls at play is incredibly therapeutic for me. I am home alone right now, but I’m meeting my wife and kids and mother-in-law out later at the local art festival. My kids are going in the parade and that makes them happy. I’m not really into the arts much, but I know beauty when I see it and joy can be infectious so if people I care about are happy then that makes me happy too. Later I’m playing a charity poker event where we’re raising money for a young family devastated by the suicide of the father. That will be both a fun and a sombre night, but it’s real. It’s close to home and it’s something. Something I can do that’s positive. I am grateful for that opportunity at times like these.
Everyone is different though. I certainly don’t have all the answers but I can prompt people to ask themselves the question. What can you do? We each can’t really do much to stop the craziness going on outside of our spheres of influence. But we CAN do something closer to home. So I implore you today. Ask yourself the question. Then go do it. Be the change you want to see.
