It's Sunday night, exactly one hour before the second debate between Trump and Clinton. I'm conflicted about whether or not to watch.
On one hand, this election is a part of our country's history, and I generally like to witness history.
On the other, I've spent too much energy on train wrecks this week already.
Anytime I turn on a screen lately, I'm bombarded with destruction. If it's not this election, it's shootings If it's not shootings, it's bombings and attacks. And if it's not physical attacks, it's verbal attacks and cyber bullying, which is happening a lot more frequently lately by particularly nasty trolls on my Facebook pages.
As a person who likes to fix things, these are very difficult times.
I don't know how to help the world right now. I feel lost in all the negativity; the problems feel too big and too many. The overarching voice in my head is saying I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OF THIS. So by the end of the week, I had to ask myself the question: what, if anything, can I control right at this moment?
Surprisingly, there are endless answers to that questions.
I can work on my building. I can practice the piano. I can play with my son. I can make dinner. I can clean up the sidewalks. I can walk the dog. I can meet with an old friend. I can paint my walls. I can spend time with my husband. I can do just about anything that's needed in my own little world. That's what I can do.
Reader, I don't know if the state of the world is as troubling to you as it is to me. But just in case it's helpful to know: I feel lost too. But there are things we can do right now. This week, after a really hard week in the news, I felt like curling up in bed with a pillow over my head. Instead, my husband and I cleaned up the forest around our house by splitting logs and burning downed limbs in a big bonfire. Did it bring peace to Syria? No. Did it prevent shootings in our country? No. Did it stop our politicians and other people from spewing hatred on-line? No. But it made our woods looks better, and I felt a lot less out-of-control and frustrated by the time we were done. Honestly, the world needs calm and composed people in it right now more than it ever has before. So whatever you've got going this week, I hope it brings order and purpose and peace to your own little world. I'll see you next Sunday. -Em
On one hand, this election is a part of our country's history, and I generally like to witness history.
On the other, I've spent too much energy on train wrecks this week already.
Anytime I turn on a screen lately, I'm bombarded with destruction. If it's not this election, it's shootings If it's not shootings, it's bombings and attacks. And if it's not physical attacks, it's verbal attacks and cyber bullying, which is happening a lot more frequently lately by particularly nasty trolls on my Facebook pages.
As a person who likes to fix things, these are very difficult times.
I don't know how to help the world right now. I feel lost in all the negativity; the problems feel too big and too many. The overarching voice in my head is saying I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OF THIS. So by the end of the week, I had to ask myself the question: what, if anything, can I control right at this moment?
Surprisingly, there are endless answers to that questions.
I can work on my building. I can practice the piano. I can play with my son. I can make dinner. I can clean up the sidewalks. I can walk the dog. I can meet with an old friend. I can paint my walls. I can spend time with my husband. I can do just about anything that's needed in my own little world. That's what I can do.
Reader, I don't know if the state of the world is as troubling to you as it is to me. But just in case it's helpful to know: I feel lost too. But there are things we can do right now. This week, after a really hard week in the news, I felt like curling up in bed with a pillow over my head. Instead, my husband and I cleaned up the forest around our house by splitting logs and burning downed limbs in a big bonfire. Did it bring peace to Syria? No. Did it prevent shootings in our country? No. Did it stop our politicians and other people from spewing hatred on-line? No. But it made our woods looks better, and I felt a lot less out-of-control and frustrated by the time we were done. Honestly, the world needs calm and composed people in it right now more than it ever has before. So whatever you've got going this week, I hope it brings order and purpose and peace to your own little world. I'll see you next Sunday. -Em
