Apocalypse. I thought on some level something terrible might happen on election night this year. So a few months ago my partner and I booked a trip to Costa Rica (where I’m writing this response now) because we didn’t want to be in the states when all hell broke loose, either literally or in our hearts.
Thankfully we’ll be going home to a slightly more sane version of the USA... I hope. But I was ready to relocate to Latin America just in case.
Politics is exhausting; the pandemic was/is exhausting; keeping my head above water is sometimes exhausting. But I’ve seen the options.
I've promised Georgia NOT to tell her about the election results no matter what--speaking of fear of demoralization. I'd have been glad to sit in on the chatter you've described here. Maybe I'll strive to become "less political." Certainly, if need be . . . and it might.
Man, I miss hanging with my old guy basketball friends... almost as much as I miss playing! Time with friends is priceless and probably what we lost the most from the pandemic
Sorry, but Mr. Russell has the most championships, just saying. I too am absolutely bone-weary of all of it. I voted straight Democrat also and am so done with "tiny hands". When I get a little down I remember the world will survive, maybe not us humans, but the world will.
Michael Jordan; yes, too early to trash talk Kobe's game; I'm also happy for Pat Benatar; I cried with friends the night Ronald Reagan was elected and here I still am to write about it.
Man, I really liked this essay. I saw the Bill Maher clip you posted and it put me in a funk. I’m very wary of what the future holds. I feel like we’re living in the last days of Weimar and it saddens me that the term “liberalism” has become a pejorative...God, I miss the ‘90s.
Wow! So important to keep getting out, to get out of myself for me. "Me medicine" is going out. I attended a dance performance and felt high after. Natural high.
Must admit, I'm not a Bill Maher fan, but watched the clip you posted. Yeah, he's an a$$hole but a smart one. Also agree that we may be losing out on a lot in this coming election...but I also believe in hope...and hope I'm wrong.
I left the left. Without apology. It feels great to separate myself from virtue signaling bullshit, the purity spiral, grifting, authoritarianism and nutball gender cult. I am so happy to escape the shame and duress of feeling obligated to vote for the duopoly. AND I find it easier to laugh at them.
History tells us that all civilization shifts happen after a trifecta: climate change, war, and pandemic. It is wearing to live these times. And yet, they're not so special in the grand scheme. Leaning into the things and people we love...it's the only grounding.
Sorry I missed last night. Was a very long week. Coached basketball and soccer games yesterday after a draining week at work and had so much on the honey-do list that I was trying to maximize my productivity at the cost of what sounded like a very fun evening.
Next time I will kick myself out of the comfort zone and get out of the house.
It might be a case of misery loves company, but this really hit home. Lately, the importance of just living and appreciating the here and now is where hope lives for me —and the exhaustion of trying to keep up with what is (and isn’t) happening in US politics has become normal—
Yes. I had another thought to write: "As bipolar as I am, I feel that our political parties, especially the far left and far right, are their own kind of bipolar disorder, veering wildy from the manic belief that the world is ending and the despondent belief that the world is ending.
Apocalypse. I thought on some level something terrible might happen on election night this year. So a few months ago my partner and I booked a trip to Costa Rica (where I’m writing this response now) because we didn’t want to be in the states when all hell broke loose, either literally or in our hearts.
Thankfully we’ll be going home to a slightly more sane version of the USA... I hope. But I was ready to relocate to Latin America just in case.
Politics is exhausting; the pandemic was/is exhausting; keeping my head above water is sometimes exhausting. But I’ve seen the options.
I've promised Georgia NOT to tell her about the election results no matter what--speaking of fear of demoralization. I'd have been glad to sit in on the chatter you've described here. Maybe I'll strive to become "less political." Certainly, if need be . . . and it might.
Exactly what I've been feeling. Exactly what my friends have been feeling. Reassuring to read, especially today.
And maybe we'll get back to a hyper-local focus, and stop paying attention to the dog and pony show on the mainstage. They don't speak for us.
Man, I miss hanging with my old guy basketball friends... almost as much as I miss playing! Time with friends is priceless and probably what we lost the most from the pandemic
Sorry, but Mr. Russell has the most championships, just saying. I too am absolutely bone-weary of all of it. I voted straight Democrat also and am so done with "tiny hands". When I get a little down I remember the world will survive, maybe not us humans, but the world will.
Michael Jordan; yes, too early to trash talk Kobe's game; I'm also happy for Pat Benatar; I cried with friends the night Ronald Reagan was elected and here I still am to write about it.
💗📝
Man, I really liked this essay. I saw the Bill Maher clip you posted and it put me in a funk. I’m very wary of what the future holds. I feel like we’re living in the last days of Weimar and it saddens me that the term “liberalism” has become a pejorative...God, I miss the ‘90s.
Wow! So important to keep getting out, to get out of myself for me. "Me medicine" is going out. I attended a dance performance and felt high after. Natural high.
I am so glad you got to hang out with your friends. Big Fun.
Must admit, I'm not a Bill Maher fan, but watched the clip you posted. Yeah, he's an a$$hole but a smart one. Also agree that we may be losing out on a lot in this coming election...but I also believe in hope...and hope I'm wrong.
I left the left. Without apology. It feels great to separate myself from virtue signaling bullshit, the purity spiral, grifting, authoritarianism and nutball gender cult. I am so happy to escape the shame and duress of feeling obligated to vote for the duopoly. AND I find it easier to laugh at them.
History tells us that all civilization shifts happen after a trifecta: climate change, war, and pandemic. It is wearing to live these times. And yet, they're not so special in the grand scheme. Leaning into the things and people we love...it's the only grounding.
Amen to all that!
Sorry I missed last night. Was a very long week. Coached basketball and soccer games yesterday after a draining week at work and had so much on the honey-do list that I was trying to maximize my productivity at the cost of what sounded like a very fun evening.
Next time I will kick myself out of the comfort zone and get out of the house.
Thanks, Jeff. I always have to kick myself to get out of the house!
It might be a case of misery loves company, but this really hit home. Lately, the importance of just living and appreciating the here and now is where hope lives for me —and the exhaustion of trying to keep up with what is (and isn’t) happening in US politics has become normal—
You just put it more succinctly than I did!
Haha! Power summarizer—
I agree a vote now seems more like an act of defense and less like hope. That was well said. These are demoralizing times and hope takes work.
Yes. I had another thought to write: "As bipolar as I am, I feel that our political parties, especially the far left and far right, are their own kind of bipolar disorder, veering wildy from the manic belief that the world is ending and the despondent belief that the world is ending.
Lots of folks on the far right think Democrats eat babies. Or that Sandy Hook was a false flag. Or etc.