@lynn I don't find your words dark at all. Instead, it's so honest and courageous, and that makes it really bright. From my perspective, it's really important to acknowledge reality before we can improve it, right? I really think, from my perspective, you're acting great, Mrs. Lynn Braveheart!
@Lynn. . . . yes very dark, but certainly on the mark. On the bright side . . . it is a blessing that T is 79 years old and not 49 or 59. However, the longer that this plays out, the deeper into the abyss we go. I am hopeful that it won't be long.
I don't blame those in charge, I blame those who put them in charge. I think other countries are looking at Americans in that light . . . as if they are saying "what is wrong with you people?"
I have been thinking a lot about you lately. You are a frontline light worker and such a blessing.
You've made an excellent point. I agree that yes it is happening and yes acknowledging the truth is healthier and better (for me) than fearing what might happen. The truth does strengthen me.
One way I get through these horrific times is through acts of intention.
Intention to create positive experiences with my family members (like @Tedp) and is very helpful. Intention to find the light while darkness hovers, even if only thin strands of light. Strands of light are beautiful in many different ways. Intention to find things to be grateful for every single day. Gratitude is healing. Intention to notice when others are doing something filled with compassion and to acknowledge their actions. Intention to speak truth and rise up to my highest self. And intention to act through love.
Love breaks through walls, builds bridges, lessons burdens, heals wounds, allows for understanding, and is the foundation of our humanity. Love transmutes fear. Love IS light. Love brings hope. Love connects us to The Creator, to God, to a Higher Realm. Love is everything.
I think the best response I can have to these dark fearful times is to respond to them with love.
@lynn Dear Lynn, I have summarized for you and to strengthen your position, an interview in German from Giuliano da Empoli, a Swiss-Italian author, who has just published another famous book here in Europe. I am sure you will enjoy and will agree with his wise words.
Italian-Swiss writer Giuliano da Empoli analyzes what we are currently experiencing as the fusion of something very old with something radically new. The old is the political predator, the autocrat. The radically new is the tech magnate. As predators, both want to overthrow the current democratic rulers. The political predators in the world are currently paralyzing us with shock, but both types of predators threaten our democratic world as we know it and what we value about it.
The most difficult and important question to face this situation is: How do we prepare for the future? If we remain in shock, the predators have already won and are going to eat us. So it is important to recognize that the real question is: How do we preserve not only ourvhope, but also our joie de vivre? How do we nurture both? Yes, as a politically conscious person, I want to nurture genuine joie de vivre, especially now. Constantly. Because in this world, what happens is not inevitable. That is why we must cultivate joie de vivre. As long as people have joie de vivre, they can face reality and take political action instead of falling into a state of shock.
So, Giuliano da Empoli highlights the fact that acknowledging harsh reality does not mean losing hope and joy in life. In fact, these three forces of our will, mind and soul support each other and, together, support us every day in dealing with the current difficult situation in the right way.
Our beloved, Dame Jane Goodall, gave a final interview in March 2025 that was to be released posthumously.
She gave it to Netflix 'Famous Last Words'
Y'all???? This is a MUST SEE!!!! HEAR!!!!
Netflix's lowest streaming tier is $7.99... no contracts and cancel anytime.
Just do it!!!! It is worth every penny!!!! I wept, laughed and became filled with HOPE 🙏🏻🪽💚🪽🙏🏻
@lovendures Thank you for such a beautiful post. I am going to try to do the same.
Italian-Swiss writer Giuliano da Empoli
it is important to recognize that the real question is: How do we preserve not only our hope, but also our joie de vivre? How do we nurture both? Yes, as a politically conscious person, I want to nurture genuine joie de vivre, especially now. Constantly. Because in this world, what happens is not inevitable. That is why we must cultivate joie de vivre. As long as people have joie de vivre, they can face reality and take political action instead of falling into a state of shock.
Word!
Giuli speaks truly!
@journeywithme2 I literally just watched this last night. It was amazing!!! I also highly recommend it. I really feel that she was an incredible pillar of light in her work and her presence. And that carries forward after her passing in all who were inspired by her. Like an explosion of light and all the sparks fall to us who carry that forward.
The direction our civilization is headed is brilliantly discussed in this interview. I'd love to know what you think.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/opinion/paul-kingsnorth-humanity-technology.html
It's about where AI is taking us from the viewpoint of an philosopher, author, and scholar who decided 12 years ago to move his family to rural Galway, Ireland where they grow their own food and have very limited screen time. Their children are homeschooled without phones. He's tried various religious traditions and now embraces Orthodox Christianity, a relationship to the land, and to spirit. He addresses Peter Theil and Elon Musk's philosophy which he calls Anti-Christ and Silicon Valley's singularity, also in his view, anti-Christ. But mostly he discusses how we are fast become slaves to machines that could end our humanness.
I did not find it depressing but enlightening.
It posits a choice for each of us. And it awakens us too. What do you choose between the convenience and wealth of these machines and the danger of a Faustian bargain that will put us in hell?
@tgraf66 @lovendures @bluebelle @deetoo @seaholly @sealion @journeywithme2 @vesta @cc21 @Caroline @lynne @raincloud @dannyboy @dana @tesseract @kateinpdx @lowtide
What a mind-expanding conversation! This stays with me, from Kingsnorth's remarks:
"And I was thinking only yesterday, actually, about this: that maybe a society which can balance its outer exploration with its inner exploration could be a more healthy one."
The US is not that mature, yet.
Each of us has to decide how much of "the machine" we can live with in our lives, and to what extent we set boundaries and "opt out".
Here it is almost Thanksgiving. I was outside trying to read a book with a cat, in the way, setting on my lap, when a ladybug landed on my book. It thrilled me, because ladybugs are good luck.