July 4, 2023
I work hard to stay positive, especially in this blog where I share what might benefit us all. Today, however, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t say, “Yea, let’s celebrate Independence Day and acknowledge all the freedoms we share.”
For once, I didn’t see a way around acknowledging it’s a difficult time to be upbeat about the future of our country. I thought I’d have to come clean about the depth to which I feel our democracy has fallen to division.
BUT ..
What good does it do to focus on our problems? Despite this country’s differing viewpoints, kerfuffles, and other challenges, do I still have a good life? I unequivocally must say, “Yes, I do!” My life is rich and rewarding because of friends, cuddly kitties, books and movies, delicious food, and nature around me. Some days when I’m feeling not so great, either physically or mentally, those things still exist. They exist for me regardless of what is going on in the world.
We seniors don’t have an unlimited number of days left. Why would I want to spend my remaining time being afraid, pushing the fear agenda, spending an inordinate amount of time on the negative, or making all I do, say, and think about what’s wrong? I’m not going to devote even one paragraph here about what’s bad and confusing and generally not of my choosing in our free country. It does no good and only upsets me further.
What will I do? What do I recommend you do?
Stay informed, vote, and get on with living the best life you can.
As Randy Pausch said in his final speech: “I am going to keep having fun every day I have left….”
Thanks for being so honest, Antonia, and putting it out there. All my “people” would agree. The USA is an experiment. Sometimes things go wrong in the laboratory, test tubes get dropped, things catch on fire, a decades-long tended bacteria suddenly dies. Ugh. Go home, take a stiff drink, watch something stupid on TV, kiss your dog/cat, and get up in the morning, don your lab coat and get back to work. The Nobel Prize may not be in our future, but it’s worth working for.
I love the work-day-in-the-lab analogy. It’s perfect. Here’s to keeping on, dear friend.