Robyn, I feel your words. My country is the most unstable it's been in my lifetime. About a year ago, I had to get off social media and concentrate on myself, physically and emotionally. I still limit what I view on the media. I lean into art, writing, and exercise. I had a new subscriber comment that my newsletter has a "Pollyanna" feel to it. I told her that it was on purpose. There's too much negativity in the world, and I'm not going to add to it.
Robyn, this resonated so hard with me I took notes!
My thoughts--
Several statements resonated specifically, including
"...how fragile certainty has become."
"...the sense of exposure lingers..."
I, too, feel what I'll call a general anxiety about the world's systems falling apart around us. Because they are--everything I trusted as I lived my life has been shown to be either a lie and/or is breaking apart.
Another statement you made that I think is really key: "We notice things others don't." Yep! Each generation notices different things because of where we began, what we experienced, and the age we are now--in my case, 66. I'm reading a fabulous book that seems to explain the specifics of cyclical generational differences, "The Fourth Turning" by Strauss and Howe. And I think the fact that we, as older people, notice different things is going to be really important in pulling us all through this "fourth turning" and into a bright future.
I used to think my anxiety about things was just me--too touchy, too much artistic temperament. Nope. I was carrying problems that weren't mine to carry. I'm not responsible for fixing all the brokenness in the world, or making sense of all the craziness. As soon as I learned to put these down, my life got a whole lot cleaner.
Oh Kathy, thank you. I knew it wasn't only me but, like you, separating myself from it has been both challenging and liberating. My focus now is on taking care of me, digging deep to write my truths and supporting our Substack community. That feels like important work amongst the chaos.
Robyn, I feel your words. My country is the most unstable it's been in my lifetime. About a year ago, I had to get off social media and concentrate on myself, physically and emotionally. I still limit what I view on the media. I lean into art, writing, and exercise. I had a new subscriber comment that my newsletter has a "Pollyanna" feel to it. I told her that it was on purpose. There's too much negativity in the world, and I'm not going to add to it.
I'm enjoying your newsletter!
The world needs 'good vibes' in whatever format they are sent and arrive 😊
Robyn, this resonated so hard with me I took notes!
My thoughts--
Several statements resonated specifically, including
"...how fragile certainty has become."
"...the sense of exposure lingers..."
I, too, feel what I'll call a general anxiety about the world's systems falling apart around us. Because they are--everything I trusted as I lived my life has been shown to be either a lie and/or is breaking apart.
Another statement you made that I think is really key: "We notice things others don't." Yep! Each generation notices different things because of where we began, what we experienced, and the age we are now--in my case, 66. I'm reading a fabulous book that seems to explain the specifics of cyclical generational differences, "The Fourth Turning" by Strauss and Howe. And I think the fact that we, as older people, notice different things is going to be really important in pulling us all through this "fourth turning" and into a bright future.
I used to think my anxiety about things was just me--too touchy, too much artistic temperament. Nope. I was carrying problems that weren't mine to carry. I'm not responsible for fixing all the brokenness in the world, or making sense of all the craziness. As soon as I learned to put these down, my life got a whole lot cleaner.
Really great essay. You're definitely not alone.
Oh Kathy, thank you. I knew it wasn't only me but, like you, separating myself from it has been both challenging and liberating. My focus now is on taking care of me, digging deep to write my truths and supporting our Substack community. That feels like important work amongst the chaos.
I think it's the most important work we can do, Robyn!