September 13, 2025. Protect Yourself

 If you know me well, you already know I don't care about your politics. So understand from the onset that this is not about that. What matters to me is a person's integrity, empathy, morals, and kindness.

I am a huge proponent of mental health care and am taking exception to those who claim that it's being used as an excuse or validation for the gun problem in our country; actually it's being blamed for many of society's issues. But, I digress...

I've been very open about my personal struggles and have had to come up with various coping skills in order to be able to navigate social media. I had to delete my Facebook account several years ago, losing my blog and hundreds of pictures and videos. The hate and division at that time was too much for me. I activated a new account just this year as I feel I'm in a better place and because I missed being in contact with classmates and friends from afar. I've been much more selective with whom I associate and have no compunction when it comes to blocking anyone who turns out to be not what I'd thought.

Even doing this, there are still posts that infiltrate my feed, unrelated to those I choose to follow.While the hate and division are still present, it's up to me to control how I view it, but more importantly, how I react to it. I have friends with different ways of thinking than I, but find it's interesting to listen and not judge, as long as my thinking is also respected. Yes, I do have friends like that. I'm not here to try to change anyone's mind.

I've never been one to bury my head in the sand, and feel strongly that being well informed is vital. It isn't that hard to cull out the misinformation if you view the source first. Reputable information is there, in spite of all the opinions that it's all "fake news" if it doesn't favor the current administration. I see past opinions and go straight to facts or the science.

Interestingly enough as an aside , I recently read that those with logical minds find that logic and politics do not mesh. That makes so much sense to me.

Given the recent events in the past weeks, it's been harder to avoid the onslaught. The only way I've found to protect my mental health is to not scroll. It's all just too much. I've read only the facts and have let the rest go. I check in on my friends, view sites I enjoy or from which I benefit. That's it.

Do I have opinions on some of what's happened? Of course. Will I impose those opinions on here? No way. Nobody's got time for that when there is still good in this world. That is my focus. It keeps my head clear and my heart unburdened. I do care about each person involved with the tragedies; none of it has been necessary and paints such a bleak picture of a possible future. I have to believe that the American resilience and courage will prevail.

So protect yourselves; your hearts, and your minds. We are all in this together. ☘

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