I had a different post planned today, but instead I think I’d like to talk about the craziness on my timeline.
People stuck indefinitely at airports. People worried about their travel plans. People worried about their bank balance. And these are just the people I know in my real life.
Online, there’s such an outpouring of grief, outrage, sheer incredibility, not to mention complete exhaustion and often anger directed at anyone and everyone.
At such times I usually either try and focus on doing one small good thing, fighting one tiny battle towards goodness and light, and on some days exercising my immense privilege of being able to turn off the television, the Internet, the world. I retreat into a world of walks and cat videos.
So many on my timeline don’t have that privilege. They must wait for news, and sometimes the news is not what they’d have wanted. They must actively strive online and offline to bring back a measure of sanity to our world gone slightly insane.
Of course there are others still partying away in corners of the planet where life goes on, and the divisions of war and social destabilization haven’t made themselves felt.
The poem I pasted above is how I feel today—and since this is the Insecure Writers Group Post, I wanted to share that with you.
How are you feeling today? In excellent spirits, or just a little tired of the insanity of our planet and those running it? Tell me how your week’s been, and your plans for the next and the next. Or tell me if any of what’s happening in our world right now makes sense to you.
This post is part of an event held each first Wednesday of the month: Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Founded by the Ninja Cap’n Alex J. Cavanaugh, the purpose of the group is to offer a safe space where writers can share their fears and insecurities without being judged.
The awesome co-hosts for the Jan 7 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre! Please go and visit them if you like.
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That poem is so profound.
I’m coping by putting one foot in front of the other and trying to focus on the things I can control and the good I can do. I feel guilty for not being more of an activist in the face of what’s happening, but as the sole breadwinner for 2 disabled people, with a demanding job, a husband with a serious and ultimately fatal disease, and a chronic illness myself, I have very limited energy and focus for anything outside my immediate sphere. I try to limit my doomscrolling and take a little time to do things I enjoy–writing, reading, journaling, walking, traveling, gardening, time with family–and otherwise just hang on by my fingernails. I also try to give myself grace for all the things I’m not accomplishing.
Well, Damyanti, you know where I live and the nightmare we have of a deranged and narcissistic President and his minions of hate-filled enterprise. Some days, it’s just wearing and disappointing and disgusting, but I have taken steps to maintain my sanity. I haven’t watched national news on TV since late 2024 – I read online and try to limit how much I read. I try not to post angry or negative posts on social media of late. A friend steered me toward a FB alternative, a Canadian platform called Hey.Cafe, where I can stay away from politics and enjoy cat/dog and biking/hiking and gardening/nature posts, plus friendly people. It’s almost spring here, so in another month I’ll be out in the garden, biking, walking, and doing what brings me joy. I hope and pray that we will get to a reversal of what is happening in the U.S. with the November elections, that we can turn the Senate and House to a Democratic majority and get these horrible people out of the White House, but that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, I’ll keep living my life and try to stay positive for a better tomorrow here and all around the world.
Thanks Damyanti for both your poem which the reflects the normalcy we all crave when things are so fractured around us. It seems humans are destined to be faced with the actions of others beyond our control… When we feel powerless we strive to control our small part of the world. Sally ♥
I live in the U.S., and we are exhausted. I don’t know what else to say. I, my friends and relatives are all suffering in one form or another from emotional overload and fear.
Insightful poem, Damyanti. History records the perpetual insanity of the planet, but one constant can restore our sanity. Prayer.
I enjoy delving into ancient history through to the times we live in now. Kingdoms arise and subject people for a time but are brought down by the moral decay of their societies and other oppressing kingdoms take over and eventually suffer the same fate. We are seeing that played out before our eyes today. But through it all people survive and manage to raise families and enjoy that sun which comes up each day on schedule and the rains that nurture the vegetation and glories of flowering delights despite their condition. Those who pursue riches and power eventually come to their end after stressfully trying to protect their wealth and position in society and ruining their health. As for me I’m content with the little I have and satisfied with each day granted me. One of the happiest persons I’ve observed I saw while waiting for a ferry in Bangladesh. He emerged from a thatch roof mud hut in believe it or not a Santa suit with the happiest look I’ve ever observed as he chatted with everyone around him watching the ferry approach. No one even noticed his outlandish costume so me must have worn it every day. He had nothing and he was content. I pondered that every day and made a decision to observe what happens around us as we need to be alert to danger but to realize I have no control over it. But I do have an opportunity to make others as happy as is possible in this world and delight in trying to do that. Making others happy promotes happiness with our lot.
I’m feeling sickened, enraged, and scared about the latest atrocities committed by the government of the country I live in.
Sending you so much love. The world is watching, and we can see what exactly is going on.
Thank you, Damyanti. I just feel horrified at the suffering this administration is inflicting across the world.
Beautifully said. The world indeed is a crazy place now, with no sign of going back to what it was in the last decade. I am keeping myself as sane as possible when you are a writer. I am creating the characters for a new book based on some of my family’s real experiences during WW2, and I am for the first time seriously looking for an agent. I hesitated doing this before with my earlier books, which were published by small presses. Now, I have written a woman’s fiction, and I feel I have found my true voice because I have finally embraced the idea that I am a writer. It was the gift I was given to pursue by God, who gives each of us a calling in this world. My looking for an agent verifies not only that the world is crazy now, but the people who inhabit it have begun getting crazy too. So what wil you be doing this week to bring some sanity into your little corner of this earth?
Sending you all the luck for your agent hunt, Julie. I hope you find one soon. I’m afraid I’m not doing much other than write an escapist tale. Some of those helped me get through death in the family and covid, so I’m hoping this one will help me get through the raging wars (where I’m so far relatively unaffected) and maybe even help others find some escape.
Such a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing.
Ronel visiting for IWSG day <a href="https://www.ronelthemythmaker.com/like-herding-cats/" Like Herding Cats
I’ve found myself going back to it often.
This is definitely a time of sadness and fear. I’ve decided to use what small writing talent I have to effect positive results for several organizations pulling for our own regime change in the U.S.
Sending you hugs, winning energy and good vibes.
about the same as you. I’ve stopped spending much because it feels selfish. Only necessities. Keeping older things that aren’t worn out.
Waiting for my son to get home from Korea. Hoping that happens without problems.
Yeah, spending on essentials only, these days. Wishing your son a safe journey.
War is always ugly and despite one evil taken out, another will take his place…
You’re so right. And this war has no clear winners, only losers on all sides.
Spending less time watching nightly news and doom-scrolling on Bluesky… I have retreated into myself because I’m not exactly sure how to respond to all that is happening. I only know I am exhausted from it all. My parents lived this thru WWII, my generation through Vietnam and the first Desert Storm…just don’t know how much more I can take. There is definitely a “No Vacancy” sign on my forehead. Canada’s looking better all the time…
I hear you on all counts. I’ve started reading more books and switching off the internet for longer periods.
Hi Damyanti – what a ‘sensible’ post … I’m ok, but do appreciate so many others’ horrors … Alessandra Olanow’s poem is very pertinent … particularly the line about fire-brand men making decisions about who lives. I note … but carry on and do what I can in and around my own environment. With thoughts for the world … Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. That poem’s haunted me for a while and came home to roost this week. Take good care, and let’s hope the world turns a (good) corner soon.