This was a joyful post. But I get what you mean about wondering whether you’re doing enough, and all the kindness talk when there is evil standing in front of you. I don’t have answers. I’m not American, and I live in Switzerland. But I’m horrified and feel like I’m watching a terrible disaster movie and it just keeps on and on.
Thank you! Here, we feel like we're living in a terrible disaster movie. Except that for many of us, the disaster is still confined to the news and hasn't yet thoroughly permeated our everyday lives. Won't be long now, though.
Glad to see “rats driving cars” make an appearance again. That reminds me that one of the things that brings me joy during these tough times is the menagerie of animals in our garden that seem oblivious to all that’s going on in the world, other than the nuts and seeds and fruit that they seek out and find in our backyard.
Joy is a little native Douglas squirrel crouching to eat a wild strawberry with both paws, in the groundcover that replaced the lawn in our backyard wildlife habitat effort (success!). And birds bathing in our recirculating cascade (especially hummingbirds, who adore water sheeting over a surface). And dahlias starting to bloom. And tomatoes forming.
These redirect me from all the outrage and horror.
This - what you wrote. And this comment at the bottom of the "You Took My Joy And I Want It Back" song link that I read while listening to the song. "This is a song about getting an abortion because she doesn't want to be saddled with his broken promises memories for eternity. Lady can't start over always saying, "yeah, I had this creeps's kid, but I can ditch him if you want to fool around..." We men are as_wholes not understanding the woman is handicapped in her single life forever once she has kids, and aside from a few exceptionally understan:-)ding men she's not likely to meet raising someone else's kid, she's either cancelling herself to be a great - but single - mom for the duration, or: She's raising unwanted children. So I think this song is the anger of having lost innocence and the only way to have a chance is to 'take it back' being single like when before they met. Us guys if the law was we had to literally raise any baby we make ourselves I mean actually raise and nurture them, we'd be making sure every convenience store had an abortion clinic." Well, maybe more hope than joy. But, for sure, joy, too. :-)
Thanks, Sandy! I didn't see that comment, interesting. Though according to Google, the song is not about an abortion but rather, as you'd expect, about a man.
We certainly need both hope and joy! I think joy can be a bit easier to find, even in the small things, whereas hope is hard to hold onto these days. Though we still need to try, of course. ❤️
First this: "However, feeling love and compassion can be really tricky when it comes to fascists, as worthy an endeavor as that is." Feeling love isn't the idea; acting from love is.
“Every single thing we do in this life should come from love. Every action, every statement, even if you have to let somebody go, the hardest thing you have to do, can you do it with love and not anger, fear, greed? Most business decisions come from fear and greed. Can you make that exact same decision but from a place of love?” Raj Sisodia...From <https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/the-key-to-life>
And dunno about joy. The times are the times. Maybe passion for the good would be more doable. Have a look at my Substack today, with wonderful thing that will at least bring smiles:
Thanks, Sue! You have an interesting Substack; I appreciate what you're doing.
I do believe we can always find joy, even in the darkest times, though it may be harder to come by. As for acting from love and compassion, I find it easier to do that when I feel at least some love and compassion.
All the best to you! Thanks for spreading joy and hope.
I loved the Menopunks teaser! Go Jody!
You might be an older white woman, but you are a naturalized citizen and could be deported if you act up too much. :(
That’s the sad reality. There’s still a lot one can do behind the scenes.
This was a joyful post. But I get what you mean about wondering whether you’re doing enough, and all the kindness talk when there is evil standing in front of you. I don’t have answers. I’m not American, and I live in Switzerland. But I’m horrified and feel like I’m watching a terrible disaster movie and it just keeps on and on.
Thank you! Here, we feel like we're living in a terrible disaster movie. Except that for many of us, the disaster is still confined to the news and hasn't yet thoroughly permeated our everyday lives. Won't be long now, though.
Glad to see “rats driving cars” make an appearance again. That reminds me that one of the things that brings me joy during these tough times is the menagerie of animals in our garden that seem oblivious to all that’s going on in the world, other than the nuts and seeds and fruit that they seek out and find in our backyard.
Yes! Reminds me of the poem "The Peace of Wild Things."
Joy is a little native Douglas squirrel crouching to eat a wild strawberry with both paws, in the groundcover that replaced the lawn in our backyard wildlife habitat effort (success!). And birds bathing in our recirculating cascade (especially hummingbirds, who adore water sheeting over a surface). And dahlias starting to bloom. And tomatoes forming.
These redirect me from all the outrage and horror.
Thank you for another thoughtful entry!
Thank YOU! And someone else also commented on the wild creatures in his yard. Yay for them!
This - what you wrote. And this comment at the bottom of the "You Took My Joy And I Want It Back" song link that I read while listening to the song. "This is a song about getting an abortion because she doesn't want to be saddled with his broken promises memories for eternity. Lady can't start over always saying, "yeah, I had this creeps's kid, but I can ditch him if you want to fool around..." We men are as_wholes not understanding the woman is handicapped in her single life forever once she has kids, and aside from a few exceptionally understan:-)ding men she's not likely to meet raising someone else's kid, she's either cancelling herself to be a great - but single - mom for the duration, or: She's raising unwanted children. So I think this song is the anger of having lost innocence and the only way to have a chance is to 'take it back' being single like when before they met. Us guys if the law was we had to literally raise any baby we make ourselves I mean actually raise and nurture them, we'd be making sure every convenience store had an abortion clinic." Well, maybe more hope than joy. But, for sure, joy, too. :-)
Thanks, Sandy! I didn't see that comment, interesting. Though according to Google, the song is not about an abortion but rather, as you'd expect, about a man.
We certainly need both hope and joy! I think joy can be a bit easier to find, even in the small things, whereas hope is hard to hold onto these days. Though we still need to try, of course. ❤️
I AGREE 100%
First this: "However, feeling love and compassion can be really tricky when it comes to fascists, as worthy an endeavor as that is." Feeling love isn't the idea; acting from love is.
“Every single thing we do in this life should come from love. Every action, every statement, even if you have to let somebody go, the hardest thing you have to do, can you do it with love and not anger, fear, greed? Most business decisions come from fear and greed. Can you make that exact same decision but from a place of love?” Raj Sisodia...From <https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/the-key-to-life>
And dunno about joy. The times are the times. Maybe passion for the good would be more doable. Have a look at my Substack today, with wonderful thing that will at least bring smiles:
Preparing for the future
Things being done now
https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/preparing-for-the-future
Thanks, Sue! You have an interesting Substack; I appreciate what you're doing.
I do believe we can always find joy, even in the darkest times, though it may be harder to come by. As for acting from love and compassion, I find it easier to do that when I feel at least some love and compassion.
All the best to you! Thanks for spreading joy and hope.
Yay, Rosana!!
You give me joy, and your blog!! xoxo
Aw, thank you — as do you!! ❤️
I’m right here, baby!
❤️