Skip to main content

Ground

I have been trying hard to be happy this summer, because the temptation to drop into deep depression has been almost irresistable. The last few years have seemed to me like millstones, and people keep feeding themselves into them to be crushed. That may sound a bit bleak until you think back on the last time you heard anything newsworthy that didn't prey on your negative emotions. Climate change? Scares us, makes us feel helpless. Politics? Have become so hateful they foster emotions from outrage to contempt 24/7 in basically everyone. Same with mass shootings, overseas wars, bigotry, runaway inflation, health issues, food safety, etc.

I've stopped checking on current events. I don't want to be poisoned by it anymore.

That said, most of it is still in my face. Bumper stickers, yard signs, t-shirts all proclaiming toxic politics abound here. I can shut that off by pretending I don't see it, or just thinking about something else, but inflation can't be dodged. When I go to the market and see a head of lettuce for six dollars, and a single bell pepper for five, I wonder how people with kids are even managing to properly feed their families. Is everyone living on mac n' cheese? Gas prices just increased over four dollars a gallon here. We're back to only using the car when we need to run three or more errands.

It's always been easier to be negative and dark. I think the bitterness and disappointment we all feel as we age becomes mountainous, too. I don't regret my life, but if I had known what the outcome would be . . . I don't know. Maybe I wouldn't change any of my choices because the result isn't as important as the effort. Despite the many miseries of being constantly ground down over the years, I am grateful for my life. That pushes me away from depression more than anything.

The millstones will go on grinding no matter what you or I do. So live and pursue your happiness. If you fail, try again, or try something new or different. Keep going in the most positive direction you can. That may be the only way to escape being crushed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stuff

After finding this Caron one pound skein of lovely peach yarn in my thrifted lot I raided my stash for two cakes of Mandala in Pegasus, which matches it perfectly. For practice and hand therapy I'm going to make another Worth Street Afghan with this free pattern , but this time I'll use the yarn that was recommended for it plus the one pound skein. I'm not quite ready to do the vintage/recycled linen quilt I had planned (still a bit too nervous about the idea), so I'm going to use some color therapy and make a quilt from these thrifted green fat quarters. I considered doing another Yellow Brick road patchwork pattern, but I might go with a split rail fence like this one.
Post a Comment
Read more

Better than Fried

I cut some chives from the kitchen garden to make garlic-chive baked fries for dinner. This is a great side dish for veggie burgers. Click here for the recipe from Taste of Home.com.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Mercantile

If you don't mind walking 33K square feet in retail space, The Mercantile may be the vintage/arts store you'd enjoy visiting if you're ever in Orlando. I certainly did. Because it was busy I didn't take any photos in the store, but it's absolutely amazing and chock full of antiques and artisan creations, most of which were pretty reasonably priced. For $21.00 I invested in a picture of sailboats for the guest bathroom I'm redoing, and a fairy mystery jar of cool stuff. The jaw was hand-painted and decorated, and utterly charming. I think I wanted the jar more than the contents. As you can see the contents were both generous and pretty cool, too. I finally have some vintage gloves to use for my art quilter bingo challenge!
Post a Comment
Read more