There’s a slogan I love in AA that is, Just for today. All we really have is what is in front of us which is now. Tomorrow isn’t here and the past is behind us. So today, I choose to be present by being a good human being.
This world has a lot of bad in it, but there is so much good. This community has shown me that. The empathy here is amazing. The community as a whole has been welcoming and we can talk and share and have an actual conversation without getting angry and becoming aggressive and hostile. That’s a beautiful thing.
And even though this world seems like a dumpster fire most of the time, I will say that km thankful for the good people still out there in this world being an example of living life and not letting the bad consume them.
Also, 36k can buy a lot of McDonalds burgers. It had to be tempting for you.
I watched the Bassem Youssef piece the other day...he brilliantly dealt with Miers Porgan (can't even bring myself to reference him correctly). Once again, thank you for being a spotlight on things that matter, and being so compassionate. My family and I have been through the wringer lately and the top thing keeping us all going is kindness. I wish it were the guiding principle for everything, everyone, everywhere.
S. As a fellow sufferer of fibromyalgia my heart goes out to you. I too, thought about walking into oncoming traffic for a couple of years there...when I was first diagnosed. I am now on LDN which has helped heaps but is ridiculously expensive.. At least I'm able to work again part time so basicallyi I work to pay for the meds and not much more. Feel free to get in touch if you ever need to vent or swap ideas on remedies and relief. I understand how hatdl it is to live with constant pain and fatigue. Hang in there.
Very happy to start a go fund me or some sort of similar donation system to help “S”. I know you mentioned they’re tough as nails, David, and don’t seem interested in help, but even a little boost could help. With holidays coming up it could be a nice gift or bonus to offset some of those extra expenses that creep up during the gift giving season. Best to S. God life in our capitalist culture can be such a racket
I know you didn’t do any of that to be told how great you are (and the kiwi in you will shrink away from being told so) - but HOW great of you to do that for people. Making this life slightly easier for other people is what it’s all about. Happy to be here with this community.
I wanna thank S for being so candid...that's such a vulnerable thing to do. But my life circumstances are fairly similar, and while it certainly doesn't make me feel better to hear that others are having it rough...I don't know, I guess it just feels extra important these days not to feel Alone. S, I can't imagine how much your dogs' welfare must weigh on your heart every day. Love to all of you.
Re: Palestine, I have seen some of the downright most evil, hateful words from around social media and even msm, but one of the best statements I read came from Macklemore. Yes, that guy, see for yourselves - https://www.instagram.com/p/CymIVfyygGv
I'm really grateful for anybody who is able to be eloquent about any of this rn, who can make the world seem a little bit sane.
I think there is no other way to live than to wake up and keep trying to do good and I love having a “family” here that feels the same. Makes me not want to even bother with other places where people can comment on things.
You have such a kind and caring heart. I keep coming back to the quote by Martin Luther King Jr. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
We'll keep waking up and doing good - spreading love and light. It's the only way. It's all we can do. Even with all of this pain happening in the world, I truly believe there are more people who are good and kind and just want to live in peace. We all just have to fight back with love. We need to keep loving each other, even those who believe different things to us. We have to be open to listening and learning from each other and sometimes agreeing to disagree but disagreeing doesn't have to lead to hate or pain. Love and light to you and everyone here. 💜
Thanks for that David, a good read. This morning I wrote along a similar theme but specifically about left wing supporters on this Labour Day down here in New Zealand. It's a free one if anyone would like to take a look: https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/labour-day-2023
Dear David, keep up the good work, we need you and your kind, kind being the operative word.
Here's a story that might cheer you up.
My lovely daughter who has Down syndrome moved town about 4 years ago because I am ancient and I needed to know she is able to live independently, The idea of an institution was anathema to us, she's smart and doesn't accept being told what to do, She moved in with her best buddy also with Down's. Originally they were paying $480 a week rent for a miserable old house and struggled to pay transport, power, groceries etc.Her older sister set her up with furniture etc,then disaster; the house was to be sold, few rentals in that town,
The lucky angel smiled on them.
Daughter (M) took herself to the local social housing agency ( who said there were 400 on waiting list) pleaded her cause without an outside support and got accepted for a decent 2 bed unit.rent 1/4 of weekly benefit
Now she has more money in her current account than I do. She is scrupulous in paying bills and passing 3 monthly inspections.
She would love to have a paid job but manages to keep busy with weekly swimming and craft.
I couldn't be prouder of her.
Some of the locals tried to persuade her to vote National! Would you believe it? That was never an option for her and her buddy but she is concerned about where National is going to take the country.
I can be a bit of a misanthrope, but I love the people that assemble here. So much realness and kindness. Like calls to like. It's bizarre to look forward to a comments section on the internet, and yet I do. Thanks for providing this space, David.
S: I am not where you are right now, but I understand so deeply. I'm also autistic, have chronic pain issues, and major depression and severe anxiety have been my constant companions for twenty-some years. I'm currently taking a break from work out of necessity. You are so, so strong to keep going. I know what it takes to battle your brain everyday...what it takes to convince yourself to keep living. It's not fair and it's exhausting, but you're doing it. Sending buckets of love to you. Hug those dogs and cling to whatever will keep you going.
On the other topic:
I've been, unfortunately, kinda waiting for Israel to go full genocide for years. It seemed inevitable. I hoped I was wrong.
None of the violence is remotely justifiable and my heart is shattered for all of the innocents.
As someone who has followed the McElroys for almost a decade, I feel very at home joining this community and seeing you foster similar values in hard times. The tweet mentioned last week, "I'm gonna wake up and keep trying to do good and so are you and nobody gets to vote on that", was posted by Justin McElroy the day after the 2016 US election, and I imagine you're feeling similarly lately to how we did then. Thank you for creating a little bubble of solace here.
I’ve definitely felt the temptation to go down a doom spiral these past couple weeks. Therapists have said the best way to counter this is to look at each thought rationally and ask yourself if things are really as bad as they seem, or if there could be any other explanations. But sometimes this just leads to more thinking, and I find a better solution is to try and stop thinking altogether. Outside distractions help. Yes life is terrible, but life is also wonderful too, otherwise we wouldn’t have anything to measure the terribleness against now would we?
As someone whose dealt with illness from both sides, my heart goes out to you S! Keep holding on to those wonderful bits as hard as you can.
I think the important thing is not to get stuck in despair. Sometimes you just need to cry, and that’s good and necessary, but there’s always some little bit of good you can do, like David says. Even if that’s just smiling at someone on the street.
There’s a slogan I love in AA that is, Just for today. All we really have is what is in front of us which is now. Tomorrow isn’t here and the past is behind us. So today, I choose to be present by being a good human being.
This world has a lot of bad in it, but there is so much good. This community has shown me that. The empathy here is amazing. The community as a whole has been welcoming and we can talk and share and have an actual conversation without getting angry and becoming aggressive and hostile. That’s a beautiful thing.
And even though this world seems like a dumpster fire most of the time, I will say that km thankful for the good people still out there in this world being an example of living life and not letting the bad consume them.
Also, 36k can buy a lot of McDonalds burgers. It had to be tempting for you.
I watched the Bassem Youssef piece the other day...he brilliantly dealt with Miers Porgan (can't even bring myself to reference him correctly). Once again, thank you for being a spotlight on things that matter, and being so compassionate. My family and I have been through the wringer lately and the top thing keeping us all going is kindness. I wish it were the guiding principle for everything, everyone, everywhere.
S. As a fellow sufferer of fibromyalgia my heart goes out to you. I too, thought about walking into oncoming traffic for a couple of years there...when I was first diagnosed. I am now on LDN which has helped heaps but is ridiculously expensive.. At least I'm able to work again part time so basicallyi I work to pay for the meds and not much more. Feel free to get in touch if you ever need to vent or swap ideas on remedies and relief. I understand how hatdl it is to live with constant pain and fatigue. Hang in there.
Very happy to start a go fund me or some sort of similar donation system to help “S”. I know you mentioned they’re tough as nails, David, and don’t seem interested in help, but even a little boost could help. With holidays coming up it could be a nice gift or bonus to offset some of those extra expenses that creep up during the gift giving season. Best to S. God life in our capitalist culture can be such a racket
I know you didn’t do any of that to be told how great you are (and the kiwi in you will shrink away from being told so) - but HOW great of you to do that for people. Making this life slightly easier for other people is what it’s all about. Happy to be here with this community.
I wanna thank S for being so candid...that's such a vulnerable thing to do. But my life circumstances are fairly similar, and while it certainly doesn't make me feel better to hear that others are having it rough...I don't know, I guess it just feels extra important these days not to feel Alone. S, I can't imagine how much your dogs' welfare must weigh on your heart every day. Love to all of you.
Re: Palestine, I have seen some of the downright most evil, hateful words from around social media and even msm, but one of the best statements I read came from Macklemore. Yes, that guy, see for yourselves - https://www.instagram.com/p/CymIVfyygGv
I'm really grateful for anybody who is able to be eloquent about any of this rn, who can make the world seem a little bit sane.
I think there is no other way to live than to wake up and keep trying to do good and I love having a “family” here that feels the same. Makes me not want to even bother with other places where people can comment on things.
You have such a kind and caring heart. I keep coming back to the quote by Martin Luther King Jr. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
We'll keep waking up and doing good - spreading love and light. It's the only way. It's all we can do. Even with all of this pain happening in the world, I truly believe there are more people who are good and kind and just want to live in peace. We all just have to fight back with love. We need to keep loving each other, even those who believe different things to us. We have to be open to listening and learning from each other and sometimes agreeing to disagree but disagreeing doesn't have to lead to hate or pain. Love and light to you and everyone here. 💜
Thanks for that David, a good read. This morning I wrote along a similar theme but specifically about left wing supporters on this Labour Day down here in New Zealand. It's a free one if anyone would like to take a look: https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/labour-day-2023
Happy Labour day to all the Kiwis out there.
Dear David, keep up the good work, we need you and your kind, kind being the operative word.
Here's a story that might cheer you up.
My lovely daughter who has Down syndrome moved town about 4 years ago because I am ancient and I needed to know she is able to live independently, The idea of an institution was anathema to us, she's smart and doesn't accept being told what to do, She moved in with her best buddy also with Down's. Originally they were paying $480 a week rent for a miserable old house and struggled to pay transport, power, groceries etc.Her older sister set her up with furniture etc,then disaster; the house was to be sold, few rentals in that town,
The lucky angel smiled on them.
Daughter (M) took herself to the local social housing agency ( who said there were 400 on waiting list) pleaded her cause without an outside support and got accepted for a decent 2 bed unit.rent 1/4 of weekly benefit
Now she has more money in her current account than I do. She is scrupulous in paying bills and passing 3 monthly inspections.
She would love to have a paid job but manages to keep busy with weekly swimming and craft.
I couldn't be prouder of her.
Some of the locals tried to persuade her to vote National! Would you believe it? That was never an option for her and her buddy but she is concerned about where National is going to take the country.
cheers K
I can be a bit of a misanthrope, but I love the people that assemble here. So much realness and kindness. Like calls to like. It's bizarre to look forward to a comments section on the internet, and yet I do. Thanks for providing this space, David.
S: I am not where you are right now, but I understand so deeply. I'm also autistic, have chronic pain issues, and major depression and severe anxiety have been my constant companions for twenty-some years. I'm currently taking a break from work out of necessity. You are so, so strong to keep going. I know what it takes to battle your brain everyday...what it takes to convince yourself to keep living. It's not fair and it's exhausting, but you're doing it. Sending buckets of love to you. Hug those dogs and cling to whatever will keep you going.
On the other topic:
I've been, unfortunately, kinda waiting for Israel to go full genocide for years. It seemed inevitable. I hoped I was wrong.
None of the violence is remotely justifiable and my heart is shattered for all of the innocents.
The horrors persist but so do I
As someone who has followed the McElroys for almost a decade, I feel very at home joining this community and seeing you foster similar values in hard times. The tweet mentioned last week, "I'm gonna wake up and keep trying to do good and so are you and nobody gets to vote on that", was posted by Justin McElroy the day after the 2016 US election, and I imagine you're feeling similarly lately to how we did then. Thank you for creating a little bubble of solace here.
I’ve definitely felt the temptation to go down a doom spiral these past couple weeks. Therapists have said the best way to counter this is to look at each thought rationally and ask yourself if things are really as bad as they seem, or if there could be any other explanations. But sometimes this just leads to more thinking, and I find a better solution is to try and stop thinking altogether. Outside distractions help. Yes life is terrible, but life is also wonderful too, otherwise we wouldn’t have anything to measure the terribleness against now would we?
As someone whose dealt with illness from both sides, my heart goes out to you S! Keep holding on to those wonderful bits as hard as you can.
I think the important thing is not to get stuck in despair. Sometimes you just need to cry, and that’s good and necessary, but there’s always some little bit of good you can do, like David says. Even if that’s just smiling at someone on the street.
Emily Writes has a great summary of what you can do to help Gaza if you’re looking for an action today https://open.substack.com/pub/emilywrites/p/what-can-i-do-to-help-stop-this-genocide?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
There is the Japanese concept of Kaizen which resonates with me - focus on small improvements, trying to become 1% better everyday.
Thanks for sharing S and David. The fight for humanity continues today, tomorrow and forever.