Brrrr. Finders, the temps are dropping faster than my saggy hindquarters. All the leaves have turned, some glorious, some just withered and crispy waiting for the North wind to whisk them away. I’m working away here, tick tacking on the old laptop making good headway into a second book while sending my first around the world, which gets me to thinking about just how cold it really is out there. Tragedy steeped in hatred at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. A Brazilian president that makes Trump look like a sweet feminist auntie. Migrants inching along a perilous path seeking refuge from terror now unwitting pawns in political strife that feels like a herald of the end of days. On and on and on. It’s all so…depressing. And the shrink in me does not use that word lightly.
It’s hard to think about my doodles, but what else can I do? What else can any of us do but carry on? The minutiae of life will not be put off by a world that seems to be cracking apart. That laundry pile cares not for your righteous rage and indignation (speaking of which I just read Rebecca Traister’s Good and Mad and it’s a mad piece of good). The fridge will not be magically replenished while you protest. The kids must be fed no matter who wins in the next round of pivotal elections held around the globe. Bills gotta be paid even in times of tyranny. And so it goes.
You all know that this space is about joy and today I’m looking for inspiration. A little humanity in the insanity. Reports of random kindness, sappy videos that will dissolve me into a puddle, puppies and rainbows and unicorn sightings. The silly, the obscure, the unexpected, and the mundane. I’ll accept anything and everything even goofy pictures of your cats, creatures for which I harbour a deep seated mistrust. Dig down and find me the joy that I know is out there hidden under all the vitriol.
I’ll get the ball rolling with this. A meaningless ad for a meaningless product that somehow makes me feel hopeful and alive. Joy is where you find it, right?
Well, in about a month I’ll be working from home again full time—how’s that for a cup and a half full of joy…?
Good. this making my own lunch business is RIDICULOUS.
Good to hear from you. Hope all well with you both. We
returned to Victoria for Penny’s birthday. Lovely city/people. My latest novel will be live on Kindle Nov. 5. Called The Scopas Factor.
All the best
Vincent
Great to hear from you. Hope to see you at book launch sometime in Halifax. :)
I HIGHLY recommend @dogrates on twitter. A daily burst of joy.
I also subscribe to the Good News Network on Facebook.
Little things to break-up the feed of soul-destroying world events.
I second dog rates: https://twitter.com/dog_rates
and also dog feelings by the same author: https://twitter.com/dog_feelings
Things do seem to be in an atrocious state right now, don’t they? But we must soldier on.
This might get your toes tapping:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1F0lBnsnkE
And this is sheer fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Mc-NYPHaQ
(I’ve been on a Queen kick lately)
Good luck with the writing!
Maybe “fun” is not exactly the right word except for the beginning and ending, but those are the parts I was thinking of when I left the link!
There’s a certain irony that your last post was complaining about the heat…excuse me, the humidity! Perhaps you should reread that so you can feel better about this season of cocooning, drinking tea and wine, and sleeping in flannel sheets! Try and hang in there until at least February before you despair. It’s a long season.
Have you tried lighting lots of candles, maybe aromatherapy ones? A lightbox? Feeling grateful that you’re not living in a tent when the wind blows. And naps, naps are one of the great pleasures of working from home! You probably have a fireplace, but if not, get a gel firepot. Next best thing. And watch less news. You will always hear about what’s going on, but you don’t need to be bombarded with all the pictures. Go back to it in the summer if you must. Try comedy instead: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thedebaters and https://www.cbc.ca/radio/becausenews are wonderful.
I hope this doesn’t come across as preachy; that was not my intent. I struggle with this season, too. These help me. Good luck with the weather, the book, and everything else! You were a blessing to me; I wish good things for you.
For a real heart warming story, try https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-46073249
Lots of wonderful people out tere – they just dont usully make the news because they don’t ‘sell papers’.
Not realted – wanna come to Kenya with me some time?
I was so happy to see this pop up in my email, not that long before I had wondered how you were doing. Of course it hit while I was in the process of moving home to Newfoundland from Vancouver. And then I forgot.
To start, I’m sorry you are having a tough time. I get it, I actually found the Vancouver winter incredibly hard last year and am looking forward to snow. Go figure.
For quick jolt of laughter, google whose line is it anyway and Richard simmons. It makes me laugh every time. I get a stack of my favorite kind of movies and books from the library and indulge with a cup of your favorite beverage. Mine is Murchies Christmas blend tea in a beloved mug. For a change up I try hot chai (David’s Saigon) or Constant Comment orange and spice. I spend a lot of time hanging with my animals. I am lucky to have access to several horses and just being around them makes me happy and I love giving a hand when owners need a hand. Doing things for other people gives me a glow. One of the most rewarding things I have ever done was volunteer at the Gathering Place in St. John’s. As Pippa said, lots of good people do great things, just no one talks about them. My special treat right now came in the mail, a seed catalogue which will give me hours or pleasure planning my spring garden.