World Spinning Weirdly

[Neonatal RRT]

Every day and night is slowly eating away at me. The only thing that will get rid of my stress and anxiety is for people to stop being ludicrous and for the world to be a decent place, but that's going to happen, and taking a few deep breaths is not going to make it go away. Now please stop the world so I can get off.

It's called "compartmentalization". You mentally separate yourself from what's going on. I focus upon myself, first.

A silly intro to Guardians of the Galaxy, but many times I sort of imagine myself as the character, Groot, dancing around, trying not to pay attention to the "dumpster fire" around me. Avoiding drama. It pretty much sums up those really bad days at work, but also in these turbulent social and political times. I got off the "crazy train" a while ago.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Good luck with your vote, had two votes within a few months both consequential.

 

[RemyZee]

Terry Pratchett is good medicine too. I read mostly on the phone screen now. You need a library card, but those are easy to get. The app is called Libby. Libby has audiobooks too.

Journaling is not easy to start doing. There are methods. You can learn to do it. I was taught how. Any competent mental health counselor or educator can teach you.

I like reading other people's methods for writing. Just finished Bird by Bird by Anne Lamotte: very much shows the process she goes through as a writer and teacher.

 

[RemyZee]

Agree. The other issue is that the "media machine" is all bought and paid for. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. So, what you end up with is propaganda from a certain perspective. It may or may not be "state media", but it certainly is "corporate media". It's the corporations that pay the politicians, as well. It used to be that if there was an "opinion-editorial" on the television news or in the paper, it would specifically state that "these opinions andYou h statements do not reflect those of this TV station or paper". Fast forward to today, and everyone's news feed is just jam packed full of op-eds, most of which are bought and paid for.

You have to wonder how it skews people's senses of reality in a way that's completely particular to this time in history: you get to pick and choose which media, politician, or academic to follow based on what your predilections are, and at the same time you are operating in an atmosphere of media manipulation. There are a billion trajectories, all supposedly valid. Not surprising people are so confused. You wake up one morning and the world looks a certain way based on your best guesses; the next morning it changes completely with the inclinations of media. Amazing that people manage to stay sane.

 

[RemyZee]

I'm much the same but instead of just reading about it I got involved and started writing about it, I became very politically active. Mostly by writing to different politicians and to different concerned social groups. Not your average keyboard warrior, I don't waste my time complaining about what I don't like but instead lend my considerable intelligence and long memory to groups that I think can bring about positive change.

The future for my country has become a lot less grim over the last few years and only seems to be getting better, although not all see it that way. I'm really happy with the way things are turning out here and I can see a really rosy future ahead of us.

I'm curious specifically about what's happened in Australia that has made things less grim, that allows you to see a better future that you can be happy with? Is there something in particular that's changed things for the better there, so that you can imagine life continuing to improve? I get stuck in my American Silo and forget there's a world out there with experiences that are very different from what's going on here in the US.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

You have to wonder how it skews people's senses of reality in a way that's completely particular to this time in history: you get to pick and choose which media, politician, or academic to follow based on what your predilections are, and at the same time you are operating in an atmosphere of media manipulation. There are a billion trajectories, all supposedly valid. Not surprising people are so confused. You wake up one morning and the world looks a certain way based on your best guesses; the next morning it changes completely with the inclinations of media. Amazing that people manage to stay sane.

I am of the mind, we have a segment of the population that are not "sane" because of all of the propaganda, indoctrination, hypersensitivities, unpredictability, etc. Some people are significantly affected. Throw in some emotional dysregulation and you have people who take it upon themselves to act out in destructive and violent ways.

We are entering an era of dramatic change, probably more so than any other time in our history. The 2030's will be rather dystopian compared to the 2020's. There is a convergence of multiple technologies, a rise in more extreme forms of political ideologies, changes in social distributions, etc. Multiple variables. Too many things out of our control. We need focus upon ourselves and to be adaptable to change. That only comes with a proper mindset towards goal setting and planning, but with an open mind and intellect towards multiple pathways leading towards a better future. What is your 5, 10, 20-year plan?

A sailor does not control the winds nor the currents but rather rides them towards a destination.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Wait for stuff being smuggled over border. any thing but".