Today is a good day. I’ve been relaxing at home. I created a new piece of Anderhill music. I went out and bought some new pants, even if I don’t need to wear them when I’m working online. But all the while, in the back of my mind, I can’t help but thinking that the world is totally out of whack.
The Sh!t Just Keeps Getting Piled Deeper
I live in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a beautiful place, except when it’s burning up and thick smoke fills the sky. Yes, it’s temporary, but is it really? I’ve lived out here for 40 years, and these fires have increased greatly in the last 10 years. I’ve pretty much ruled out sitting out on the deck on late summer and early autumn evenings.
And of course, the fires are just the icing on the 2020 shitcake. Here’s a short list of all the unbelievable crap that’s been going down lately:
- COVID-19: a worldwide pandemic
- Police abusing power and killing people
- Riots in cities across America, and the world
- A POTUS that feels more like a dictator than a leader
- Political unrest around the world
This is our world. Some days it feels like there is no hope left. But there are ways to deal with a world that’s totally out of whack.
Making Sense of a World Out of Whack
- Hold onto hope, but not too tight: Hope is a double-edged sword. A little bit of hope goes a long way. Too much hope will disappoint you in the end. The key is to have enough hope to stay alive, but not so much as to set false pretenses.
- Do your best to do some good: When the world feels like a shitty place, we all have the power to make it a little bit better. Our small actions might not put out the forest fires or bring COVID-19 to a halt, but we can put smiles on people’s faces. Be kind. Be considerate. Do something nice for a stranger.
- Pay less attention to the news: Some people like to tune the news out completely. I’m not a fan of that. I think it’s important to know what’s happening around us. But if you find yourself dwelling on all the world’s problems, you could probably cut back on your news intake.
- Accept the worst that could come: This one is big. You’ll never be happy or satisfied if you always expect the best outcomes. Anxiety and depression plague those who worry. So don’t worry. The world could fucking end tomorrow. Accept that and be at peace.
- Keep moving forward: Finally, don’t stop working toward your goals. Having goals gives us something to look forward to. There are days I want to quit blogging. But then I’d just have more time to feel like crap. Exercise. Travel. Get that new job. Just keep moving forward.
Times Have Been Worse
Believe it or not there have been a lot worse times in the big scope of history. It might seem like we’re in a hopeless downward spiral (and we might be, but remember to accept the worst that could come), but chances are good that we’ll get past these times.
So what? The world is totally out of whack right now. It doesn’t mean you have to be out of whack. So I’ll end this post the same way I started it.
Remember.
Today is a good day.
de
