The weatherman discussion made me think about a discussion my brother in law and I had at a wedding a couple weeks ago.... We both reflected on 2018 being a bad year personally for the family for a couple of reasons, but both mentioned something bigger and darker that we couldn't quite put our finger on in regards to 2018.
My brother in law said that he and some of his friends had had similar conversations, about how misery and negativity seemed to be beating down the door, even when you try to avoid it (like me, avoiding any of the mainstream social media where it tends to run wild) which seemed to work for many years, it just seems to permeate your personal life. That the drum is just beating so loudly that you can no longer seem to insulate yourself from it all. Does anybody else ever feel like that?
It seems harder to promote or hear about positivity. And even the positive things you hear through said social media and the like often seem fake or contrived.
Are negative thoughts and misery permeating our society, and how do we fix that? Is it fixable?
On the other hand maybe it's anecdotal and maybe just myself and a few acquaintances had a bad year?
Drown out the noise and engage in the positive. the world is getting better every day less people in poverty then ever before we are living longer and better.
I lead a charmed life so I am generally happy but if you think about it most of us here do as well if you look at the grand scheme of things.
Let peace and positivity rule.
I love you man.
I said no because who has the time to sit down and play and listen to an album? It used to be a great pleasure to read the album art, and the lyrics while listening to each song over and over. (Maybe it was the weed.)
I'm retired and I can't fathom spending the time doing it. Anakim has a point, technology is rewiring our brains.
Drown out the noise and engage in the positive. the world is getting better every day less people in poverty then ever before we are living longer and better.
I lead a charmed life so I am generally happy but if you think about it most of us here do as well if you look at the grand scheme of things.
Let peace and positivity rule.
I love you man.
That was one of my bro in law's main points.
I'll take your sister's vinyl!
Yes, there is no doubt they contributed to my misery!
When it opened up to everyone, the first thing I remember thinking was "how weird can this get?" and I opted to shut down and never turn back.
People think I'm weird. People assume I would have fear of missing out. I have been fine with it. Once politics heated up in 2015-2016, I considered myself lucky to not be caught in that echo chamber.
I think there are just too many people who never question their own infallibility and therefore have to demonize anyone they disagree with to explain why they hold different views.
Also, some would say I'm hypocritical saying I don't do social media, but point out that I'm on this site which is technically social media, and that's not lost on me. I get it.
I guess I just feel like this site is a little more insulated, anonymous to a degree, but friendly because we all ultimately share the common bond of the Giants even when we disagree, it's still just about the Giants.
I agree they have a negative effect, but I also think it’s one more and more people are waking up to. Society has a way of getting through.
IMO the world, while full of bad news of all kinds, is no worse than it always has been.
The difference is unlike the rank and file who suffered in Ancient Greece or Rome, medieval Europe, etc, we can read about every bad thing that happens all over the world immediately if we want.
Which can have a positive effect too - more and more people who’s lives existed in a sheltered cocoon are now waking up to the fact the world isn’t so great for a lot of people.
Link - ( New Window )
-It is hard to shut out the negative and keep the positive. I would speculate it has something to do with misery loves company. Having a bad day? Share your dislike, and so on.
I do not watch the news at all anymore (not that I ever did much) for the fact that most of it is negative or a reach for something positive that turns into a negative while people try to tear it down to make themselves feel better.
I wonder how many people are truly happy. Zen like in their approach to the world. The Dali Lama maybe?
My take is do what you enjoy and shut out the rest. You only live once (now if I could only follow my own advice)
Yes, and yes. I like to run (although I've gotten away from it in recent months) and spend lots of time with my kids which are the highlights of my day. I rarely look at my phone at home.
Outside influences, politics, crazy family members, the Giants :) etc are what they are. Outside issues. I can't control any of that. I just take it in stride and do what i'm supposed to do for my wife and kids.
Life's much more enjoyable and fulfilling that way.
We went through a pretty good health scare with my 14 year old daughter late 2017. All worked out thank God but it put alot of stuff into perspective. I have found myself laughing things off this past year that in the past I would have spent way too much time and energy dwelling on.
This
Thanks. It definitely does.
Be it walking, driving and possibly the rudest, most disrespectful form: when you are actually talking to them.
Drives me up a f-ing wall.
Be it walking, driving and possibly the rudest, most disrespectful form: when you are actually talking to them.
Drives me up a f-ing wall.
Be it walking, driving and possibly the rudest, most disrespectful form: when you are actually talking to them.
Drives me up a f-ing wall.
This bums me out most when I see a family at a restaurant, and both mom and dad are buried in their phones while their kids are being ignored. Sadly, it's not uncommon.
I get a little tired of negativity and personal attacks here though. Some posters insist on ranting the same old rant on nearly every thread, and the game threads on the Giant and to a lesser degree, Yankee games get to the point where I have to stop reading and participating. I don't know how a lot of you feel, but it's exhausting reading them. Hell, we can't even get thru a playoff or college thread without the same people making them about Eli/Gettleman/Shurmur or Beckham.
I know exactly how you feel Britt. 2018 was a tough year for a lot of us, and it seems like there's a dark cloud hanging out there. I'm hoping for a little more kindness and sanity in 2019. Luckily I have a volunteer job that allows me to wipe everything aside for a few hours a week.
Best solution I know of is to actively practice gratitude. I think it is too easy for people to focus on what they don't have. Gratitude for what you do have is not something that comes naturally for most people. Developing the virtue of gratitude needs to be intentional. It starts by establishing habits where you practice gratitude. There are some great daily practices to learn and incorporate into your life.
Another key component to both developing gratitude is selflessness, which is developed through service to others. I think that's another virtue that has long been neglected.
We live in a time where there is not a shared set of values like there used to be, so it falls on parents to work with their children to develop these virtues. The perspectives that follow are well worth it, imo.
In addition, the executive branch of government is so outside of the box and confrontational (again, not necessarily saying this is a bad thing - just very different) that it just added to this prevailing sense of uncertainty.
Really, let's face it. Once the Eagles won the Super Bowl you just knew this would be a shitty year.
Same.
As a news junkie, I want to obviously stay current with what's going on, but I find myself pulling back to keep my sanity. I'm not a sunshine type guy to begin, usually a glass half empty person. But one of my '19 resolutions was not to sweat the small stuff as much, relax, & enjoy life. Rome wasn't built in a day, but hopefully it will before too long.
Also, in 30 years I bet this will be paradise.
Best solution I know of is to actively practice gratitude. I think it is too easy for people to focus on what they don't have. Gratitude for what you do have is not something that comes naturally for most people. Developing the virtue of gratitude needs to be intentional. It starts by establishing habits where you practice gratitude. There are some great daily practices to learn and incorporate into your life.
Another key component to both developing gratitude is selflessness, which is developed through service to others. I think that's another virtue that has long been neglected.
We live in a time where there is not a shared set of values like there used to be, so it falls on parents to work with their children to develop these virtues. The perspectives that follow are well worth it, imo.