This is a perfect forum to discuss your thoughts and musings that have deeper meanings. I also like the idea of finding personal happiness and breaking free from the maddening crowd. Most politics are out of our hands and staying ‘worked up’ raises blood pressure and is unhealthy. Thirty minutes of news per day is enough, I agree. But, like a cat, curiosity gets the best of me and I want to know what’s happening with buying Greenland, doing away with the IRS, releasing JFK’s classified documents, reducing government, and more. My head is spinning. Stop.its time to watch the deer, birds and squirrels in my back yard.😊
I agree Michael. What does that even look like? I think we’ve lost so much of our ability to appreciate and sit with the simple. Just enjoy the moment.
I really relate to your feeling of having opinions about so much we know nearly nothing about. I think media (both the ones trying to do good and the misinformation machines) contribute to the mental frenzy. We're bombarded with headlines, articles, podcasts, etc and are left with tip-of-the-iceberg knowledge (at best) and use it to form opinions on nuanced issues. I'm taking an approach I saw from sociologist Jennifer Walter:
Overwhelm is their goal. Your focus is resistance. She advises to pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can’t track everything - that’s by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.
Reading the Merton quotes, I was reminded of Ken Burns' when he said "history doesn't repeat, human behavior has not and seemingly does not change." Jed, have you read "The War Prayer" by Mark Twain? That came to mind also while reading your post. Who was it who said we've met the enemy and it is us -- i think it was in a cartoon strip -- Pogo? Sending you oxygen in the form of love. xx Karen
Just read “The War Prayer”. Powerful words. I find myself awe struck that people can so easily land on the conclusion that they did at the end. It’s so easy to be close minded. I desire to have a richer more meaningful depth to my life. To see and understand fully. To appreciate and value the dualism and tension that exists in all of life and in every part. A journey to the end for sure.
It’s so interesting to hear that Merton was questioning genuine happiness if it was advertised in Life Magazine… and here we are doing the same thing but in a different way today. A reminder that themes are repetitive throughout history even if they come in different shapes (magazine vs Instagram). Thank you for sharing this!
This is a perfect forum to discuss your thoughts and musings that have deeper meanings. I also like the idea of finding personal happiness and breaking free from the maddening crowd. Most politics are out of our hands and staying ‘worked up’ raises blood pressure and is unhealthy. Thirty minutes of news per day is enough, I agree. But, like a cat, curiosity gets the best of me and I want to know what’s happening with buying Greenland, doing away with the IRS, releasing JFK’s classified documents, reducing government, and more. My head is spinning. Stop.its time to watch the deer, birds and squirrels in my back yard.😊
“Why can we not be content with an ordinary, secret, personal happiness that does not need to be explained or justified?"
Bingo.
I agree Michael. What does that even look like? I think we’ve lost so much of our ability to appreciate and sit with the simple. Just enjoy the moment.
I really relate to your feeling of having opinions about so much we know nearly nothing about. I think media (both the ones trying to do good and the misinformation machines) contribute to the mental frenzy. We're bombarded with headlines, articles, podcasts, etc and are left with tip-of-the-iceberg knowledge (at best) and use it to form opinions on nuanced issues. I'm taking an approach I saw from sociologist Jennifer Walter:
Overwhelm is their goal. Your focus is resistance. She advises to pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and focus your attention there. You can’t track everything - that’s by design. Impact comes from sustained focus, not scattered awareness.
I love that so much. Pick a few things, learn all you can, and fight for them. <3 That gives me some peace today
Reading the Merton quotes, I was reminded of Ken Burns' when he said "history doesn't repeat, human behavior has not and seemingly does not change." Jed, have you read "The War Prayer" by Mark Twain? That came to mind also while reading your post. Who was it who said we've met the enemy and it is us -- i think it was in a cartoon strip -- Pogo? Sending you oxygen in the form of love. xx Karen
Whoa. Never heard of the War Prayer! Must read.
Just read “The War Prayer”. Powerful words. I find myself awe struck that people can so easily land on the conclusion that they did at the end. It’s so easy to be close minded. I desire to have a richer more meaningful depth to my life. To see and understand fully. To appreciate and value the dualism and tension that exists in all of life and in every part. A journey to the end for sure.
It’s so interesting to hear that Merton was questioning genuine happiness if it was advertised in Life Magazine… and here we are doing the same thing but in a different way today. A reminder that themes are repetitive throughout history even if they come in different shapes (magazine vs Instagram). Thank you for sharing this!