I wrote a comment and it disappeared when I went to re-read the dispatch. Interesting, not recommended. I have seen this disintegration coming for a long time and yet I'm surprised to experience its unmistakable presence. The larger systems are falling like a frozen waterfall in spring. I watch people sit on a perfect day with the windows up and the vehicle running to keep it at that same temperature. A checkout woman at Sobeys said someone put fish waste in her green bin once and there were maggots when she found it and sorry, but she's never composted again. So I let go of everything I hope in, over and over, and listen and watch for things that come along that need to be done. Naming things clearly needs to be done and I thank you for how you do that.
Dear dear Jan, I seem to be so busy,these past weeks I realize I’m missing responding. I click on the heart and say…later…and it doesn’t come. I’m sorry. You know I love Fridays and your dispatches. Today was so you, it touched me on so many levels, as you do always but what is happening today down there and elsewhere, your ability to verbalize so beautifully your thoughts and feelings, memories and stories I’ve heard before fill me with wonder. Maybe, just maybe I can properly absorb your wisdom. Visitors here, delicious food, animated conversations, love and stories shared as only long standing friends can. I come to my bed and read my Friday treat and bing, bang, boom…..I’m filled with gratitude. We looked for a few meteor showers in our beautiful peaceful dark sky and said nite nite, sleep tight. Thank you!
You personalize and yet universalize the emotional and cognitive dissonance state in most of our lives. I watched a right-wing talk show host clarify that his MAGA base callers are not all that steamed over the ‘my conspiracy theory is better than yours’, their focus being more about the victims, the young girls whose lives were shattered by powerful, rich men. That is the ‘truth’ about why they want the files released. I took that as a bit of a sign that despite the cultural wars, and generational and tribal divides - we are all guilty of circling the wagons - that like the Israeli-Palestinian coalition, there is some hope beyond the darkness.
I no longer have faith in any world leader or entities like the U.N - which is handcuffed by its structure re five of the worst offenders holding veto power. As for the shit-show south of us, it is, not to lessen their importance, whatsoever, the little cruelties. Deporting people to some small African country that I have never heard of before! From where none of the deportees have ever lived…. Plus the nixing of a help-line for LGBT people. How depraved is that!
On a lighter reflection, I once got an A on a term paper on cognitive dissonance. Get your head around that!
You are absolutely correct, our material world is in absolute turmoil and I feel like it is believed by our Gen Y/Gen Z. How will they ever cope if they have to forego vacations, luxury goods and spa treatments in order to survive this (hopefully) short foul blip in time.
Years ago with a step-daughter, an adopted daughter and a foster child (soon to be female) all bringing teen anst to a chaotic house I had revelation. My guy was dealing with bladder cancer and my mother with dementia was living with us. The step daughter was being dropped off for the weekly swap (week-to-week equal time) and I was talking on the phone. I was telling the person on the other end phone about all these stressers. As the step-daughter rushed by me in tears because of a fight with her mom dropping her off, I said to the listener "Then again, I am lucky to have all of these people to break my heart. Wouldn't it be terrible if we had no one to break our hearts?" But today, how do we deal with an entire world breaking our hearts? And then I remember that it isn't the entire world. The stories of beautiful Israelis and Palestinians working together don't perform well on social. The stories of incredible scientific breakthroughs are hidden by the noise. But two things I found on FB - 1) this meme: "If you ever feel heavy because you care deeply about injustice, suffering and ecological destruction, remember that a trillion dollar propaganda machine was built to make you numb and it didn't on you." and 2) an old post of mine from 26 May: "Denise Baden is a very interesting researcher and a person who finds hope in environmental stories. Further to my carping about social media algorithms, she did and experiment that found students who were fed positive stories were more likely to act than those who were fed negative news. As negativity performs better on Social, no wonder we all feel so frozen in helplessness. Your beautiful post lays it out perfectly, (your dilemma about living in paradise with so much going wrong elsewhere) but don't let every second statement out-shout your joy statements. As Denise Baden points out, if we continue to dare be happy, we will also have the energy to act.
I am finding myself having trip-home-from-the-beach-mayhem moments these days, when I also suddenly see brightness in it all. I liked that image, thanks Jan.
Thanks Jan. I enjoyed this one. Searching for truth. Wondering why my life is so good and other’s aren’t. And I love the Minas Basin. My grandfather originated from Piet Williams. I feel so at home in the Annapolis Valley, and I will be buried there. ( I have the plots !) I must investigate “ cognitive dissonance!
Your pictures are beautiful. Your thoughts are distressing but good to have definitions and explanations for the way I’m feeling. Your snapshot of time in the car with family is so perfectly perfect!
I was just thinking this morning that he who shall remain nameless probably never had a trip in a station wagon with his family to the Grand Canyon. How could he be a compassionate, caring being without those wild and crazy experiences of the true treasures of the world?
Thank you for sharing your experience, thoughts and stories week in and week out. My father stepmother and I all look forward to your posts. With sadness and love, C
I wrote a comment and it disappeared when I went to re-read the dispatch. Interesting, not recommended. I have seen this disintegration coming for a long time and yet I'm surprised to experience its unmistakable presence. The larger systems are falling like a frozen waterfall in spring. I watch people sit on a perfect day with the windows up and the vehicle running to keep it at that same temperature. A checkout woman at Sobeys said someone put fish waste in her green bin once and there were maggots when she found it and sorry, but she's never composted again. So I let go of everything I hope in, over and over, and listen and watch for things that come along that need to be done. Naming things clearly needs to be done and I thank you for how you do that.
Let me join you in the confounding void, Jan.
Duncan absolutely loved this piece, “Great writing!” I’d read it aloud to him.
Putting our hope in the wrong thing; that’s the one that gets me.
Dear dear Jan, I seem to be so busy,these past weeks I realize I’m missing responding. I click on the heart and say…later…and it doesn’t come. I’m sorry. You know I love Fridays and your dispatches. Today was so you, it touched me on so many levels, as you do always but what is happening today down there and elsewhere, your ability to verbalize so beautifully your thoughts and feelings, memories and stories I’ve heard before fill me with wonder. Maybe, just maybe I can properly absorb your wisdom. Visitors here, delicious food, animated conversations, love and stories shared as only long standing friends can. I come to my bed and read my Friday treat and bing, bang, boom…..I’m filled with gratitude. We looked for a few meteor showers in our beautiful peaceful dark sky and said nite nite, sleep tight. Thank you!
You personalize and yet universalize the emotional and cognitive dissonance state in most of our lives. I watched a right-wing talk show host clarify that his MAGA base callers are not all that steamed over the ‘my conspiracy theory is better than yours’, their focus being more about the victims, the young girls whose lives were shattered by powerful, rich men. That is the ‘truth’ about why they want the files released. I took that as a bit of a sign that despite the cultural wars, and generational and tribal divides - we are all guilty of circling the wagons - that like the Israeli-Palestinian coalition, there is some hope beyond the darkness.
I no longer have faith in any world leader or entities like the U.N - which is handcuffed by its structure re five of the worst offenders holding veto power. As for the shit-show south of us, it is, not to lessen their importance, whatsoever, the little cruelties. Deporting people to some small African country that I have never heard of before! From where none of the deportees have ever lived…. Plus the nixing of a help-line for LGBT people. How depraved is that!
On a lighter reflection, I once got an A on a term paper on cognitive dissonance. Get your head around that!
Keep being beautiful you….
Proud to be a cosmic space chicken, B
Sent from my iPad
I see you, Jan and I feel the same way. The horrors are overwhelming.
I’m right with you, Jan.
I really enjoyed this thought provoking piece.
You are absolutely correct, our material world is in absolute turmoil and I feel like it is believed by our Gen Y/Gen Z. How will they ever cope if they have to forego vacations, luxury goods and spa treatments in order to survive this (hopefully) short foul blip in time.
Years ago with a step-daughter, an adopted daughter and a foster child (soon to be female) all bringing teen anst to a chaotic house I had revelation. My guy was dealing with bladder cancer and my mother with dementia was living with us. The step daughter was being dropped off for the weekly swap (week-to-week equal time) and I was talking on the phone. I was telling the person on the other end phone about all these stressers. As the step-daughter rushed by me in tears because of a fight with her mom dropping her off, I said to the listener "Then again, I am lucky to have all of these people to break my heart. Wouldn't it be terrible if we had no one to break our hearts?" But today, how do we deal with an entire world breaking our hearts? And then I remember that it isn't the entire world. The stories of beautiful Israelis and Palestinians working together don't perform well on social. The stories of incredible scientific breakthroughs are hidden by the noise. But two things I found on FB - 1) this meme: "If you ever feel heavy because you care deeply about injustice, suffering and ecological destruction, remember that a trillion dollar propaganda machine was built to make you numb and it didn't on you." and 2) an old post of mine from 26 May: "Denise Baden is a very interesting researcher and a person who finds hope in environmental stories. Further to my carping about social media algorithms, she did and experiment that found students who were fed positive stories were more likely to act than those who were fed negative news. As negativity performs better on Social, no wonder we all feel so frozen in helplessness. Your beautiful post lays it out perfectly, (your dilemma about living in paradise with so much going wrong elsewhere) but don't let every second statement out-shout your joy statements. As Denise Baden points out, if we continue to dare be happy, we will also have the energy to act.
I am finding myself having trip-home-from-the-beach-mayhem moments these days, when I also suddenly see brightness in it all. I liked that image, thanks Jan.
D
Thanks Jan. I enjoyed this one. Searching for truth. Wondering why my life is so good and other’s aren’t. And I love the Minas Basin. My grandfather originated from Piet Williams. I feel so at home in the Annapolis Valley, and I will be buried there. ( I have the plots !) I must investigate “ cognitive dissonance!
Be well…why not?
Loved this piece Jan. Thank you for all your dispatches. I look forward to them every Friday morning.
I can really relate to this one especially.
Your pictures are beautiful. Your thoughts are distressing but good to have definitions and explanations for the way I’m feeling. Your snapshot of time in the car with family is so perfectly perfect!
I was just thinking this morning that he who shall remain nameless probably never had a trip in a station wagon with his family to the Grand Canyon. How could he be a compassionate, caring being without those wild and crazy experiences of the true treasures of the world?
Dear Jan,
Thank you for sharing your experience, thoughts and stories week in and week out. My father stepmother and I all look forward to your posts. With sadness and love, C