Save yourself. Be the example, even if you are only an example to your family or to your block. Know you are not alone. Join up with others and make a difference where you can. Be the good apple. Ration your energy and effort.
I’ve watched people I know burn out obsessively trying to change the world, I’ve watched others turn their back on the world and go whole-hog into selfishness.
There is a middle ground for each of us. Find it and occupy it. And have the courage to be kind.
Yeah, came on a bit strong, didn’t I? But you are right of course. I’m not really such a grouch as this comment may have implied. Sad thing is, I’m old enough and lucky enough to probably be dead before the shit really hits the fan. It’s the young that’s gonna feel the brunt of it, and possibly sooner than they expect. I grew up in the 70s and we had hope and a feeling that pretty much anything was possible. The cold war was a bit of a bummer, but the feeling was that we could change things for the better if we tried hard enough. I don’t see that anymore and I’m pretty sad about it.
I know I’ll be ok. Probably. But it’s not about me. I’ve had a pretty good life, all things considered. Ups and downs, sure, but it’s the hopelessness of these times that worry me. We had hope for a better future and kids today won’t have that. All because my generation and those before us are selfish fucks who only look to number one.
I don’t know that it will be ok, but I’m certain it will be different. I see the US emotionally and culturally sliding down the same slope that Russia is going down. I figure they’re 10-15 years ahead of us.
Remember how excited we all were when the Berlin Wall fell? We had that Jesus Jones song roaring in our souls.
There is a wave of negativity and helplessness being thrown at us. We are being driven to be passive, to shrug our shoulders and go buy something to give our lives meaning. Our helpless selfishness feeds profits for others.
We must disengage from that helpless/selfish/profit way of life. It will destroy us. It will eat us up from the inside and leave us hollow and empty.
That doesn’t mean we have to move off-grid and become self-sufficient hermits. It can be as simple as learning to mend our clothes so we don’t buy as many new ones, and not buying into the shame of wearing mended clothes. (Visible mending is punk as fuck.) It can be as simple as saying thank you to cashiers, holding the door for that overloaded mother at the doctor’s office, giving others the benefit of the doubt. (Kindness is punk as fuck, too.) It can be as fulfilling and challenging as joining or creating a knitting group or live music jam or walking club. (Community is also punk as fuck.)
Old punks unite! You’re right. Kindness and trying to do our part as best we can is all we can do. Hope is so very essential to combat the hopelessness, as is kindness. It’s easy to lose hope, but we must fight it however we can. Your comment does make me feel a bit better, thanks. You are wiser than I, which also is punk as fuck.
I’m honestly super into this mentality, and love this thread – Kindness in order to maintain the hope that remains in all of us that care about each other and our world!
Lol. Being angry is also punk as fuck, and I still think you’re wiser than I. Many wise people through history has preached kindness and regardless of their other sometimes silly ideas, kindness seem to be a bit of a common theme between many of them. It is a powerful force and we need it more than ever. It’s the only thing that can stand against the hate we see too much of these days. The hate was always there, but it seem to have gained legitimacy as of late. That needs to be fought with kindness, not more hate. Kindness brings hope and we need more of that. See? Wise.
I was shocked to my core, angry, and fed up when everything in 2020 laid bare what our leadership truly stood for. I switched careers and went into renewable energy public policy to feel like I was doing something to curb carbon emissions. I started ebike commuting despite people wanting to run me off the road just for existing. I eliminated plastics in buying soap and all manner of cleaning products, eat mostly vegetarian, and root for the orcas. I channel that anger into motivation to educate people on my choices, and to be patient when I can’t convince them all. It’s exhausting, but the anger keeps me going!
Good for you! Wish more people would follow your example. Not everyone can, but there’s always something to do. I must say that this community has made my day a lot better. It is easy to lose hope, but I have gained back a little faith in humanity today. Thanks.
Yeah he was right about that, but what many people don’t get is that kindness in and of itself is actually all you need. All that other baggage that comes with the dude you’re talking about has caused a lot of trouble and isn’t necessary for kindness to work its magic. Love is all you need, to quote someone else who wasn’t always on the money, but he was right about that.
Save yourself. Be the example, even if you are only an example to your family or to your block. Know you are not alone. Join up with others and make a difference where you can. Be the good apple. Ration your energy and effort.
I’ve watched people I know burn out obsessively trying to change the world, I’ve watched others turn their back on the world and go whole-hog into selfishness.
There is a middle ground for each of us. Find it and occupy it. And have the courage to be kind.
Yeah, came on a bit strong, didn’t I? But you are right of course. I’m not really such a grouch as this comment may have implied. Sad thing is, I’m old enough and lucky enough to probably be dead before the shit really hits the fan. It’s the young that’s gonna feel the brunt of it, and possibly sooner than they expect. I grew up in the 70s and we had hope and a feeling that pretty much anything was possible. The cold war was a bit of a bummer, but the feeling was that we could change things for the better if we tried hard enough. I don’t see that anymore and I’m pretty sad about it.
I know I’ll be ok. Probably. But it’s not about me. I’ve had a pretty good life, all things considered. Ups and downs, sure, but it’s the hopelessness of these times that worry me. We had hope for a better future and kids today won’t have that. All because my generation and those before us are selfish fucks who only look to number one.
I don’t know that it will be ok, but I’m certain it will be different. I see the US emotionally and culturally sliding down the same slope that Russia is going down. I figure they’re 10-15 years ahead of us.
Remember how excited we all were when the Berlin Wall fell? We had that Jesus Jones song roaring in our souls.
There is a wave of negativity and helplessness being thrown at us. We are being driven to be passive, to shrug our shoulders and go buy something to give our lives meaning. Our helpless selfishness feeds profits for others.
We must disengage from that helpless/selfish/profit way of life. It will destroy us. It will eat us up from the inside and leave us hollow and empty.
That doesn’t mean we have to move off-grid and become self-sufficient hermits. It can be as simple as learning to mend our clothes so we don’t buy as many new ones, and not buying into the shame of wearing mended clothes. (Visible mending is punk as fuck.) It can be as simple as saying thank you to cashiers, holding the door for that overloaded mother at the doctor’s office, giving others the benefit of the doubt. (Kindness is punk as fuck, too.) It can be as fulfilling and challenging as joining or creating a knitting group or live music jam or walking club. (Community is also punk as fuck.)
Old punks unite! You’re right. Kindness and trying to do our part as best we can is all we can do. Hope is so very essential to combat the hopelessness, as is kindness. It’s easy to lose hope, but we must fight it however we can. Your comment does make me feel a bit better, thanks. You are wiser than I, which also is punk as fuck.
Oh, I’m not wise, I’m just pissed off. Gotta use my anger as fuel to burn a raging bonfire of KINDNESS.
I’m honestly super into this mentality, and love this thread – Kindness in order to maintain the hope that remains in all of us that care about each other and our world!
Lol. Being angry is also punk as fuck, and I still think you’re wiser than I. Many wise people through history has preached kindness and regardless of their other sometimes silly ideas, kindness seem to be a bit of a common theme between many of them. It is a powerful force and we need it more than ever. It’s the only thing that can stand against the hate we see too much of these days. The hate was always there, but it seem to have gained legitimacy as of late. That needs to be fought with kindness, not more hate. Kindness brings hope and we need more of that. See? Wise.
I was shocked to my core, angry, and fed up when everything in 2020 laid bare what our leadership truly stood for. I switched careers and went into renewable energy public policy to feel like I was doing something to curb carbon emissions. I started ebike commuting despite people wanting to run me off the road just for existing. I eliminated plastics in buying soap and all manner of cleaning products, eat mostly vegetarian, and root for the orcas. I channel that anger into motivation to educate people on my choices, and to be patient when I can’t convince them all. It’s exhausting, but the anger keeps me going!
Good for you! Wish more people would follow your example. Not everyone can, but there’s always something to do. I must say that this community has made my day a lot better. It is easy to lose hope, but I have gained back a little faith in humanity today. Thanks.
There was this one pretty cool dude a couple thousand years ago…
To (badly) paraphrase Good Omens:
“What did he do to make them so angry?”
“Told them to be kind to each other.”
Yeah he was right about that, but what many people don’t get is that kindness in and of itself is actually all you need. All that other baggage that comes with the dude you’re talking about has caused a lot of trouble and isn’t necessary for kindness to work its magic. Love is all you need, to quote someone else who wasn’t always on the money, but he was right about that.
Yeah, can’t say I think much of his fan club…