Focus... Focus... Focus...

 

For quite a while now, I have been doing a bit of thinking about what is wrong with people. I am talking here mostly about the latest phenomena of airline in-flight brawls, general rudeness and impatience with store clerks and servers, etc.  Ugly. I have come to the conclusion that – at least in part – many have reached their breaking point with high levels of frustration generated by a complex combination of things like job stress, family stress, insane, power hungry, controlling, politicians, etc.  You know, the whole going to hell in a handbasket thing.  The feelings of helplessness are the worst. Then – I think people sometimes just get to the point of taking it out on anyone they can – including innocents who just happen to get in their way. It can be anything from shortness of temper or minor rudeness to - unfortunately -  episodes of stupidity/insanity that make national news. 

I have to talk to myself sometimes and, quite frankly, am thankful that I can write to sort things out -- and sometimes vent. I don’t like myself when I am short tempered or rude. I don't like other people either when they are.

It's difficult to be frustrated with life. Don’t we free people always want to be in control of our own lives? We are used to our freedoms.  It’s hard to see them being taken away – the loss of being able to manage your own lives, to deal with the consequences of mandates of government overreach, to see that hard work sometimes doesn’t make dreams come true… it’s hard… so hard. Then there is the whole hope for a better future for your children and grandchildren concern. Major…. Every parent in the entire world knows this particular hope. The thing is that the hardships of these times touch everyone in some way.  Unnerving for sure.  However – I am not one to give up hope.  Hope is a powerful thing and I will grab on to it wherever, whenever I can and hang on for dear life.  I think that individuals can "Mandate Freedom" in their own lives.  I have.

I saw a meme on social media this past week.  Perhaps you have seen it as well.  The title above a jumble of letters in bold face type reads something like -- The first 4 words you see is your focus for 2022.  Of course, I could not resist scanning the jumble to see where I might be headed.

                      Power… Alignment … Health … Strength 

I will gladly go with that, but just have to add a bit of a mantra…

                                   You. Can. Do. This. 

And so … we get closer to the end of the second month of the world of 2022. How are you all doing?

 

Pandora's Box

Obviously 2020 will go down in history as a challenging time for a combination of reasons.  It was like someone opened a Pandora’s box and out came the devastations of disease, the wrecking ball of Mother Nature, and … the deadly spread of violence and hatred -- like spilled hot, sticky stuff. Yep – unexpected troubles were unleashed upon an unsuspecting world for sure. And to make matters worse -- all of this continues into 2021.

However -- perhaps we would be wise to keep in mind as we enter 2021 that there is yet another interpretation of this Greek myth.  Some say that Pandora actually released a questionable present – one that appears good on the outside, but is in truth a wicked curse and that curse then comes to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.  Hmmm…

Now neither of those interpretations is pleasant, but…  those of you familiar with this myth will remember that Pandora managed to close that box before the very bottom item was able to escape. That item was Hope … and in both interpretations … Hope is saved.  The pessimist might say that Hope is alive, but it is trapped in a box. Others of a more optimistic bent might say that Hope remains in the world.  I, for one, am hanging on to the happier interpretation of this ending. I can't help myself... although... a lot of things are happening in the world today that I never thought would be possible. It is discouraging to say the least. 

And so 2021 begins...

 Here we are in the new year that all of us have been waiting for with hope and anticipation of a new beginning of, among other wonderful things, a healthier, calmer, kinder year. So… obviously, that is not happening. I don’t know about you, but it is going to take me awhile to sort out all the events of yesterday. And – if the “news” is an indication of anything, I simply must mention that among all the things that we need to think about as American citizens is that all Representatives and Senators -- well all elected officials actually -- need to take pause and think what they have done or not done to contribute to all that has happened and is happening and … all that will happen.  It is so easy to point fingers, but as my best friend’s Mom used to say when we were growing up, “Be careful when pointing fingers, because when you do, there are four more fingers pointing back at you.  She also reminded us to ask ourselves three questions before talking.  “Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?  She was a most wise woman. I miss her.

I, for one, am going to take some time now to try to sort out what is going on in our wonderful country.  Oh, how I wish I had a source of information that was not telling me what I should think and feel about things.  I have always questioned just how objective a reporter of news could be, because there is, after all, the human component to be considered, but in these times the “news’ is so slanted and full of opinion that it is difficult to sort anything out and that slant and opinion changes as the channels change.

Reporters during the Vietnam era simply lied outright to the American people.  In contrast or perhaps in addition to the lying aspect, reporters today of the mainstream “news” have become commentators, not conveyors of events. And the thing is, they don’t even try to disguise their role.  They are just “in your face’ with their interpretation of things assuming, blatantly, that of course you will believe them because you are stupid. Well – that is just not true.  I am not stupid. You are not stupid.  All of this makes it beyond difficult to sort through all the muck. The thing is – the news media still doesn’t get it.  We are on to them. It would be sad if it were not so potentially dangerous. Well maybe it is still sad. 

So here we are again, just when we hoped things could be different – you know – the dreams of healthier, calmer, kinder times.  It’s discouraging. It’s exhausting. “The more things change, the more they stay the same”. I had hoped for better.  I am thinking that you did too.  Sorry – no magic wands here.  If I had one, I would share it with you.  Honest.