For some time I have been feeling world weary and despondent. In the scheme of things I am extremely lucky. We own our 5 acre bush block with a very modest 'shed' dwelling in a small coastal town, in a locked down state virtually unaffected by COVID. I still have a 2 day a week job that pays my bills and, because I know how to live frugally (when you are an artist you learn pretty quickly), I can afford good food, a decent car and a visit to our vegan cafe once a week.
In an attempt to claw back some peace of mind I have reduced my Facebook friends to 22 - just family and close friends. I check in regularly with my 80 year old mum 400km away on Messenger so I need to keep my Facebook account, otherwise I'd probably ditch it altogether. I've stopped watching current affairs, stopped following environmental pages on Facebook too, pulled out of 'groups', stopped signing endless petitions to politicians to try and get them to change their dimwitted minds, stopped talking to people about climate change - I'm either preaching to the converted or talking to a brick wall - and generally, decided to withdraw from the world as much as possible to live in a bubble.
Instead of listening to our national broadcaster on my 45 minute drive to work I put in my ear pods and listen to gems like this from Al Stewart. This guy has a formula and it works for me - great lyrics and a great melody, orchestral backing interspersed with emotive guitar, haunting saxophone and keyboard lead breaks. Wikipedia says he is a 'Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician who rose to prominence as part of the British folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s. He developed a unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of characters and events from history'. He released Year of the Cat in 1976. This is high up on my list of 10 favourite songs - classics that I never tire of. I hope you enjoy it.
From now on I am going to try and blog about things that are more uplifting, enjoyable and sometimes still thought provoking but not depressing. I can't change the world - the next generation will have to do that. It's their world now and they are going to have to fight for it like we never did.
Yes, world weary and despondent, so hard not to be these days. We keep trying to find the beauty in the world to balance all the other stuff. I am on Facebook and I don't do politics or memes or anything that isn't for the most part original. If you would like to be friends there my name is Robin Chanin. I would love to be your friend.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful music. Sent back in time to when I was young, living on the coast in Santa Cruz and still had dreams.
I found you on Facebook and sent a message Robin. Couldn't do a 'Friend' request for some reason - probably your FB settings.
DeleteSorry about that. I do have a setting that says only "friends of friends" can send me a friend request. I'll change that for a short while if you'll try again. Thank you!
DeleteNo need to apologise. I probably have the same setting on mine so may need to change that for a while too.
DeleteGreat idea Michelle, cutting down on the clamour. The Desiderata maxim of avoiding 'loud and vexatious people' works for me. I still shout at the Murdochs but there is no point in engaging to school them.
ReplyDeleteYep. People are very fixed in their ideas. I try to accommodate different views but I also have my lines in the sand.
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