My mantra: "Behold, the field in which I grow my fucks, and see that it is barren."
Avoiding the news mostly and resisting the urge to participate in most online comments. Not getting upset about things I have no control over.
Resubscribed to XIV online. it's a good escape from this shitty reality.
Also reaching out to old connections that sizzled away
Reminding myself that even though times are crazy, as I get older more and more of my life is in my control. So even though things might seem like they are getting worse, with a focus on self improvement and a humble, healthy schedule, things could get progressively better; hopefully that can spillover to people around me.
On that note, I hope OP is having a great day :D
Moved my youtube habits away from doom and gloom news channels and instead to history documentaries and old episodes of Best of the Worst.
Similar to that, spend more time on Pluto TV/Roku/Tubi watching terrible low budget sci-fi and old comfort episodes of Quantum Leap and TNG.
Don't do this yourself but alcohol and weed. Lots of it. Unhealthy amounts.
What is the criteria one has to meet for consumption to be considered unhealthy? For me it depends on the day. Sometimes I can get by with a few hits and other days I feel like I can't function without a constant blaze across my face.
I smoke all day everyday and drink myself to sleep each night. I'd consider both of those to be unhealthy.
I'd cut the booze, but yeah, I toke up. A lot.
Filtered most of the political content out of my Lemmy and other feeds, went back to using RSS to deliver content (a surprising amount of sites of all kinds absolutely do support RSS, it's not dead in the slightest), focused more on family and things on hand.
Generally, regaining sense of agency over whatever's around you is a single best antidote.
Marxist theorists have known for many decades that the rise of fascism was coming. They called every step of this so accurately, you’d think they had a copy of Biff’s sports almanac.
But the same theorists also predicted the eventual fall of capitalists/fascists, and that socialism/communism would follow. I just hope we get to that point before climate collapse. But I’m doing what I can as an individual, and trusting the process.
Sorry, but this country fully deserves where it ends up.
I shut off all news and social media, stopped checking newspapers, TV, and podcasts, and unsubbed from all politics and news mailing lists and communities. Told family and friends and they're being cool about it.
Dove into 60's detective novels. Anything by Ross Thomas, Donald Westlake, and Lawrence Block. Have stocked up on at least a year's worth of out-of-print epubs. Will reevaluate once they run out. Mixed with a lot of outdoor walks.
It's been glorious.
Yup, blocking the news groups was something I did. Half baked articles and idiotic, ranting, comments aren't worth my time. I don't watch the news since it revolves around either fluff or fear mongering. I pretty much glance at a news compilation app and scan headlines, blocking subjects that are there as rage bait. I'm very selective about what I read now.
My basic rule is there is no point in getting upset about things you have zero control over and/or don't have the slightest effect on you.
I haven't tried the 60s yet, but I've heard good things about Westlake. My entire reading world changed when I discovered the original hard-boiled works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.
Which country?
Stopped reading and watching the news. No point.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leslie-moonves-donald-trump-may-871464/amp/
https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/e-jean-carroll-les-moonves-assault-1203250251/amp/
Bold of you to assume I'm sane
Family and friends!
Absurdist but intelligent humor. Here in Argentina, watching or listening to old shows by Les Luthiers gives me life.
Finding things I can do, and people I can help. Get involved and get organized!
Psychedelics, weed, alcohol (willing to quit alcohol but it's always a bad week to quit drinking)
As someone who had been there, done that - please don't. You matter. Hope you find a way without this shit.
I started a sub as a distraction.
I renewed my tram card today, it expired a few months ago so I was paying full price instead of the low income price since then. I'm happy to have crossed that out of my to-do list
Being involved in a local socialist org, having community, logging out
As bad as times are, these times are still better than 99% of human history.
It helps to realize that all times are troubled times.
The first noble truth of buddhism is: “Life is suffering”.
Not “Life in this decade in this country is suffering”. It’s not a locally-scoped phenomenon.
Should be asleep ramble but...
Honestly, had a lot of time to think back in chemo. Wasn't even old enough to drink yet. Caught early, pretty high rates for success... But still... Lots of time to think. Sat next to sweet old ladies with much harder fights...
I appreciate the cosmic absurdity of it all. This whole experience of brief life in a tiny blip of this stupid cosmic scale of infinity in all directions, billions of years either side.. Meaning comes from what we make it. It's the best of times, it's the worst of times. Try to enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Find hobbies. Learn a new skill. Get lost in a book, or museum, or at a disco. Get that extra slice. Take that road trip. Learn how to play that instrument. No, it's probably not too late to start skiing, or climbing, or studying French. Grind if you have to. Cool shit often requires luck, but those who put in the hours get lucky more.
I feed my brain new music every day, and try to add laughter to every room I'm in. Make art, be weird, find the helpers.
Much love
From one tiny universal blip to another, thank you for your message. Stay real.
'Preciate you too, and shall do. Keeping it real is the only way I know how to roll. 🤙
Following news from China where pretty much all the positive developments are happening today.
Read more history, even just the last 1-200 years. Really dig in to the shit they don't get into in school. What you'll find is that times have always been "troubling" and if anything I think there's a selfishness some people have when they always focus on somehow NOW is the worst time ever and NOW is when things are terrible and everything good will somehow end.
Honestly, whatever you think is "troubling" nowadays probably isn't even new or the first time. But so many people don't understand just how fucked up all of history has been and yet people and countries and cultures survived.
If anything, life today in general for most is far better than in all of human history. Due to advancements in technology and medicine, most people don't have to worry about basic survival things the same way they might have even just 100 years ago.
Times were troubling since the day you were born, because since the day you were born you were going to die. Life has a 100% death rate. Make your life matter to you, because that's all that matters.
Also, don't read comments on articles. Stay off of social media. Those things are a mind cancer. Negativity bias and fear mongering drive profits by keeping your eyes on it. Find healthy stuff that makes you happy.
You are going to be ok.
Honestly, right now, stardew valley.
Factorio
Can't wait to play the 1.6 update as soon as I finish my BG3 campaign. It's taking me forever though because I am a loot goblin.
nihilism
Lame and simple, but: It's still a privilege to be here. I am grateful I was born when and where I am.
Maybe it's because I like history, but while I want things to be different, and do what I can to push for them to be, I still get to live in a world that's better than most of the time's I've read about.
I think we have a tendency to visualize our populations' struggles against a lens of what could be better, which is a good thing because that's what leads to progress. The unfortunate downside to this is the mental health aspects that can evolve from not recognizing how far we have come despite the challenges.
This book describes it well, I think, around page 32.
Basically, helping others keeps you sane.
Honestly, sticking my head in the sand in a way. I deleted all social media from my phone (minus Lemmy) and un-joined any news communities on here. I'm trying to keep my world smaller so I can stay sane and keep those dearest to me taken care of as best as I can.
Honestly, it's worked a treat. I feel a little guilty for not rallying for the cause or keeping up with the world, but it's just too much.
Your eyes are a commodity. Choose wear they go. Anger and fear is what they need to keep your eyes on their media.
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