Let me be one of the first to respond to your comments, rather than - my usual - last folks.
I think there is a screen that I put up - TV vs Reality?- between the nightly/ daily/minutebyminute announcements of what is happening in the world verses what is happening in my living room.
It may be age related...I was very "outside of myself" during my 20's and 30's. Involved in war resistance, civil rights, women's rights.
But add forty years to that, and - although I am involved in current struggles- I do not let them come into my kitchen while cooking.
Is there an indivisible divider there? I don't think it is "with age comes wisdom" nonsense. I was involved in planning the first NO KINGS protest. But I see these weekend events as "out there". Not my immediate world.
It seems like whatever you’re doing, there’s probably a lesson there, because you’re definitely still showing up in so many ways for the world and our community without letting all the potential sources of overwhelm take over your life.
Something I've noticed in literally every system I've been part of or privy to: when those at the top quit functioning in positive ways, leadership bubbles up from grassroots members and it's usually awesome to behold because it is infectious and the optimistic, energetic community quickly joins in
Every day is a shit show. Somehow our government got away from us over the last decades. Some how our values got corrupted into thinking that me was more important than us. Somehow our gun culture went from yippe eyo kayee to it's OK to militarize the second amendment and turn our backs on murder. Some how technology replaced society. Some how we let the antichrist and his minions slip into power while tech bros and oligarchs watch people starve. Somehow your health became a luxury tax. Garrett, I love your thoughts but we need the "we are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore". Protest is great, but we need national strikes, shut down by workers, and kicking our legislators asses at all levels. DJT, a sociopath, and his minions care naught about you Midwesteners or us Beltway slaves or basically any decent American, regardless of our location or tribulations. It will get worse .....it has to get worse. It's the only way we will shake the Trump miasma. So we find the strength to celebrate our faith, hold our family, friends, neighbors close in care and love. Respectfully, potlucks don't work real well around here. Racism, pocket books, unemployment, thought/gender suppression and uncertainty are what ignite tempers....it's worse than the Battle of Britain....the bombs just keep dropping here in Metro DC.
I am doing my dammdest to generate some holiday cheer but in my 73 years I have never faced an America like this. I wish you and your kin the best but 2026 may be the battle ground that saves the Republic. Merry Christmas in the most humble and urgent way. BG
oh dang, waterworks
Let me be one of the first to respond to your comments, rather than - my usual - last folks.
I think there is a screen that I put up - TV vs Reality?- between the nightly/ daily/minutebyminute announcements of what is happening in the world verses what is happening in my living room.
It may be age related...I was very "outside of myself" during my 20's and 30's. Involved in war resistance, civil rights, women's rights.
But add forty years to that, and - although I am involved in current struggles- I do not let them come into my kitchen while cooking.
Is there an indivisible divider there? I don't think it is "with age comes wisdom" nonsense. I was involved in planning the first NO KINGS protest. But I see these weekend events as "out there". Not my immediate world.
Wrong? Maybe....
It seems like whatever you’re doing, there’s probably a lesson there, because you’re definitely still showing up in so many ways for the world and our community without letting all the potential sources of overwhelm take over your life.
"Sources of overwhelm take over your life". Maybe this is what we need to strive for.
Something I've noticed in literally every system I've been part of or privy to: when those at the top quit functioning in positive ways, leadership bubbles up from grassroots members and it's usually awesome to behold because it is infectious and the optimistic, energetic community quickly joins in
Every day is a shit show. Somehow our government got away from us over the last decades. Some how our values got corrupted into thinking that me was more important than us. Somehow our gun culture went from yippe eyo kayee to it's OK to militarize the second amendment and turn our backs on murder. Some how technology replaced society. Some how we let the antichrist and his minions slip into power while tech bros and oligarchs watch people starve. Somehow your health became a luxury tax. Garrett, I love your thoughts but we need the "we are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore". Protest is great, but we need national strikes, shut down by workers, and kicking our legislators asses at all levels. DJT, a sociopath, and his minions care naught about you Midwesteners or us Beltway slaves or basically any decent American, regardless of our location or tribulations. It will get worse .....it has to get worse. It's the only way we will shake the Trump miasma. So we find the strength to celebrate our faith, hold our family, friends, neighbors close in care and love. Respectfully, potlucks don't work real well around here. Racism, pocket books, unemployment, thought/gender suppression and uncertainty are what ignite tempers....it's worse than the Battle of Britain....the bombs just keep dropping here in Metro DC.
I am doing my dammdest to generate some holiday cheer but in my 73 years I have never faced an America like this. I wish you and your kin the best but 2026 may be the battle ground that saves the Republic. Merry Christmas in the most humble and urgent way. BG