The Ostrich Lady

I am one of those people who cannot seem to merely watch the news or read about current events without feeling as though I have absorbed the negativity that permeates nearly every aspect of our daily happenings. This is not a good thing because I spend my days anxious and nervous and have even been reduced to tears. It's gotten to be way too much. When all of your senses are super sensitive and on high alert every second of every day, you have to stick your head in the sand for a minute to clear your mind and recharge.

My favorite person in the world sent me this text Saturday morning: 

...take your time, sip slowly, DO NOT TURN ON THE NEWS, it will be okay...

I didn't follow the advice until yesterday morning. It was incredibly liberating. I took my time, I sipped slowly and I did not turn on the news. I went through the entire day without the news. I felt like a new woman. I was more energetic, I smiled all day, I was calm and positive. Good grief was I happy???? 

When I perused Facebook and Instagram I realized I needed to stop following a few groups that post about current events and politics. So, I did. Same thing in my inbox so I unsubscribed from the news sites and anything political. More boulders off my shoulders. Y'all, I even stopped following (without unfriending) people on Facebook who post their reactions to recent events or politics in a negative, arrogant, ranting sort of way.   

If I could simply watch the news and 'read-all-about-it' followed by nothing more than intellectual discussions and courteous sharing of opinions that would be fine. But I do not. No one here is interested in different opinions and I tend to ingest the news. I feel it through every single fiber of my body as it runs through wreaking havoc. It's not so much the reporting of the news (I can tell the difference between where the facts stop and sensationalism begins because I'm not stupid) but the video coverage where you see and hear people spewing verbal garbage that gets to me. (The very same thing happens when I come into contact with other people- I absorb their negativity or if I'm lucky enough to be around a positive person, their positivity. I know, it's a blessing and a curse.)

I have a hard time understanding how people in positions of authority in the year 2017 can act this way. It's embarrassing. It's juvenile. It's disgusting. It's sickening. And I'm tired of it. So, I'm taking a break. Just call me ostrich lady for the time being. I need to regroup. 

I spent my day with these two who my youngest daughter jokingly call 'the same person' because Tucker and Baby M do so many things together including searching for squirrels while standing on the toddler bed to look out the window.

If I'm going to be the right kind of influence on this little girl, I have to regroup. I want her to know how to fight social injustice and bigoted, racist, misogynistic, narcissistic leadership in such a way as to be heard not simply be part of the chaotic crowd. To use her compassion for social justice to effectively invoke change. To work within the system to fight for the changes so desperately needed. To spread love and kindness in the midst of hatred and ignorance. To encourage cooperation and communication. To learn to accept responsibility for one's actions and not to pass the buck or point the finger. To not get caught up in the heat of the moment but to get in there and be ready to fight for good for the long haul. To fight fair. To fight honestly. To fight without hatred and violence. Because it's going to be a fight. 

For now, my focus is on the good things in life- grandchildren and my sweet pup, my friends here and there, near and far, and my family. I'll get back in there. But I'm definitely taking a time out. I have to regroup.

Do you ever have to regroup? What do you find works best?

Oh, and we're STILL awaiting the arrival of Baby R. I'll keep Y'all posted!