I cried while reading this, is easy to simply go delusional and let the world burn, but once you start to put your hopes not only into the resistance but also on the beauty around you, it’s when you realize that the fight is really not over, thank you for bringing a trace of hope to so many of us 🧸🫂
Beautifully written, Caitlin. It is as if you need to drag us from the depths of despair from time to time. To be awake to the wonder that we can experience even amidst a dystopia. To walk in the breeze with your loved one; to enjoy the birds; to embrace the trees; to be near the river. Just sit under a tree and enjoy peace.
The Buddha said to the monks " Mendicants, go find a cool secluded place in the forest; beside a stream; sit under a tree and meditate; and bliss out" . Not the exact words but my version!
Homeless person to policeman involved in a "sweep".
"Bless you brother for your concern for my safety and welfare and the hardship it imposes on you and others. Thank you for taking all my belongings from me including my food for the night and storing them safely from me and the thieves that can steal them . Thank you for the advice to obtain shelter at the homeless shelter. It's not your fault it's overflowing. Thanks for the tears of joy in my eyes from the mace. Thanks for the beating with your club to show me the error of my ways because I didn't move fast enough. I hope I have in some small way managed to brighten your day. I have the sunset to enjoy from somewhere, I just don't know where."
Soon we will all be homeless, much like some of the stars that light up Sepulveda Boulevard and Malibu. Notice that there are no homeless encampments in the video clips of burning homes in L.A... It's easier to move a tent that a home, even to save it from the infernos.
As I drive alongside the homeless encampment on each side of an abandoned railroad track in our city, I wonder how it must feel to sleep in the great outdoors in the middle of our Canadian winter. Some of 'them' become icicled, frozen to death, without a name. A few years ago, volunteering to bring a few chocolates to the homeless in our town, I will never forget the distant look on a young girl's face as she looked at the sky, wondering perhaps, what did I do to deserve the kindness of humanity to go AWOL, ..... a daunting, sweet, kind look looking at the heavens for the answer ...."what did I do? "
"Canada has two solutions to the problem."... I would definitely offer the first solution (assisted suicide) you cited to a few Canadian politicians, or to the CEOs of corporations that enslave workers, while not forgetting the same proposals to religious aficionados who ask their Gods for forgiveness after scamming everyone in sight. I would offer the second solution, (igloo), to Jean-Chretien, the ex-prime-minister who stated that Canada is the best county in the world in which to live, at least for those who pay their ransoms to their masters.........
Im back in australia where I grew up for the first time in 6 years and god I've missed the magpies. Their songs fill my heart with joy everytime I hear them 🥰
Bloody oath, cobber! This is the land of birdsong. And don't we need it to soothe our worried minds, given the paucity of talent and moral strength in the ranks of our political classes!
I mean I've grown to love the nightingales, starling and doves of my second home in the Loire valley but I gotta say there's something about the laughing kookaburas and screaming galahs that warms my heart.
I have to say Sam, that I love and respect Magpies ( the birds not the team ) but I will add that Magpies are member of the Raven family and Ravens are traditionally known as harbingers of evil.
And as all Australians know, in nesting season Magpies are definitely harbingers of pain and suffering.
That’s just an old wive’s tales. Ravens and their American cousin the crow, are the most intelligent birds on the planet. They are not “harbingers of evil”, but might be trying to tell us something, or warn us.
We absolutely love our flock of crows and treat them with corn every day. Crows remember kindness.
Haha yes I too grew up in fear of the dreaded swoop but you know what I've never actually encountered a first hand account. Drop bears on the other hand, dont get me started... lost a few good friends to those evil fuckers
I grew up in country Vic - had a terrifying experience on my bike with a maggie that just wouldn't let it go. Didn't connect, fortunately. The track to town behind the footy ground was notorious.
I also knew a guy that told hilarious drop bear stories.
"You don’t need to choose between being happy and being well-informed. "
This is a hard truth to learn. We've been brainwashed to think they're mutually exclusive. "Ignorance is bliss," we're taught. But how the heck can you be "blissful" if you have no idea what's going on? Think about it.
That's the world we're in, but we don't have to participate in evil... We can and must create our own communities, our own little utopias, by treating people with love, generosity, and gratitude toward everyone in those communities....
It takes a tremendous force of will to be able to compartmentalize like that. I have moments of success, usually eventually giving in to the despair in short order. I spend time with my granddaughter. She’s 4. The purity of joy and fearless creativity we share when we let our imaginations build fanciful Lego creations is a simple but pure form of joy. Then it hits me. As hopeful that I feel in those moments, I realize what’s waiting for her when she grows. The school indoctrination, the world ahead of her. It’s in those moments I grow very dark inside. Anyways, thanks for this. I try. I do. But I’m far too much a realist to be able to be captured for long by the beauty.
Happiness is worthwhile to achieve, and in this world as it is, an achievement indeed. I'd still rather drum for endurance, creativity and anger if not rage. May these all come together from the common ground and for the common good.
I cried while reading this, is easy to simply go delusional and let the world burn, but once you start to put your hopes not only into the resistance but also on the beauty around you, it’s when you realize that the fight is really not over, thank you for bringing a trace of hope to so many of us 🧸🫂
The beauty also emphasizes that this battle is worth fighting.
You go Barb!❤️🕊️
You are the woman of the moment, Caitlin. You give perfect expression to how to proceed in times of intense moral crisis. God bless you and your work!
This is the message you were born to preach!
Beautifully written, Caitlin. It is as if you need to drag us from the depths of despair from time to time. To be awake to the wonder that we can experience even amidst a dystopia. To walk in the breeze with your loved one; to enjoy the birds; to embrace the trees; to be near the river. Just sit under a tree and enjoy peace.
The Buddha said to the monks " Mendicants, go find a cool secluded place in the forest; beside a stream; sit under a tree and meditate; and bliss out" . Not the exact words but my version!
Homeless person to policeman involved in a "sweep".
"Bless you brother for your concern for my safety and welfare and the hardship it imposes on you and others. Thank you for taking all my belongings from me including my food for the night and storing them safely from me and the thieves that can steal them . Thank you for the advice to obtain shelter at the homeless shelter. It's not your fault it's overflowing. Thanks for the tears of joy in my eyes from the mace. Thanks for the beating with your club to show me the error of my ways because I didn't move fast enough. I hope I have in some small way managed to brighten your day. I have the sunset to enjoy from somewhere, I just don't know where."
Toma,
Soon we will all be homeless, much like some of the stars that light up Sepulveda Boulevard and Malibu. Notice that there are no homeless encampments in the video clips of burning homes in L.A... It's easier to move a tent that a home, even to save it from the infernos.
As I drive alongside the homeless encampment on each side of an abandoned railroad track in our city, I wonder how it must feel to sleep in the great outdoors in the middle of our Canadian winter. Some of 'them' become icicled, frozen to death, without a name. A few years ago, volunteering to bring a few chocolates to the homeless in our town, I will never forget the distant look on a young girl's face as she looked at the sky, wondering perhaps, what did I do to deserve the kindness of humanity to go AWOL, ..... a daunting, sweet, kind look looking at the heavens for the answer ...."what did I do? "
Canada has two solutions to the problem.
Scroll down to the last picture for the housing solution!
https://open.substack.com/pub/noahunhinged/p/canadas-maid-amendment-is-full-on?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=264dj0
Toma,
"Canada has two solutions to the problem."... I would definitely offer the first solution (assisted suicide) you cited to a few Canadian politicians, or to the CEOs of corporations that enslave workers, while not forgetting the same proposals to religious aficionados who ask their Gods for forgiveness after scamming everyone in sight. I would offer the second solution, (igloo), to Jean-Chretien, the ex-prime-minister who stated that Canada is the best county in the world in which to live, at least for those who pay their ransoms to their masters.........
😢
😩
Im back in australia where I grew up for the first time in 6 years and god I've missed the magpies. Their songs fill my heart with joy everytime I hear them 🥰
Bloody oath, cobber! This is the land of birdsong. And don't we need it to soothe our worried minds, given the paucity of talent and moral strength in the ranks of our political classes!
I mean I've grown to love the nightingales, starling and doves of my second home in the Loire valley but I gotta say there's something about the laughing kookaburas and screaming galahs that warms my heart.
I have to say Sam, that I love and respect Magpies ( the birds not the team ) but I will add that Magpies are member of the Raven family and Ravens are traditionally known as harbingers of evil.
And as all Australians know, in nesting season Magpies are definitely harbingers of pain and suffering.
Hi David
That’s just an old wive’s tales. Ravens and their American cousin the crow, are the most intelligent birds on the planet. They are not “harbingers of evil”, but might be trying to tell us something, or warn us.
We absolutely love our flock of crows and treat them with corn every day. Crows remember kindness.
Haha yes I too grew up in fear of the dreaded swoop but you know what I've never actually encountered a first hand account. Drop bears on the other hand, dont get me started... lost a few good friends to those evil fuckers
I grew up in country Vic - had a terrifying experience on my bike with a maggie that just wouldn't let it go. Didn't connect, fortunately. The track to town behind the footy ground was notorious.
I also knew a guy that told hilarious drop bear stories.
"You don’t need to choose between being happy and being well-informed. "
This is a hard truth to learn. We've been brainwashed to think they're mutually exclusive. "Ignorance is bliss," we're taught. But how the heck can you be "blissful" if you have no idea what's going on? Think about it.
Thats the line that stood out for me. You make an excellent point …. Ignorance is not bliss.
"Terrestrial wonderball..." Yes!
Your writing also brings beauty into the world. 💖
That's the world we're in, but we don't have to participate in evil... We can and must create our own communities, our own little utopias, by treating people with love, generosity, and gratitude toward everyone in those communities....
Hey, thank you. A beautiful read and a small shake up to see and feel the world.
It takes a tremendous force of will to be able to compartmentalize like that. I have moments of success, usually eventually giving in to the despair in short order. I spend time with my granddaughter. She’s 4. The purity of joy and fearless creativity we share when we let our imaginations build fanciful Lego creations is a simple but pure form of joy. Then it hits me. As hopeful that I feel in those moments, I realize what’s waiting for her when she grows. The school indoctrination, the world ahead of her. It’s in those moments I grow very dark inside. Anyways, thanks for this. I try. I do. But I’m far too much a realist to be able to be captured for long by the beauty.
Happiness is worthwhile to achieve, and in this world as it is, an achievement indeed. I'd still rather drum for endurance, creativity and anger if not rage. May these all come together from the common ground and for the common good.
The elites certainly will not save us.
Great writing. Thank you
Love this ❤️❤️❤️
At the Last Trumpet in the twinkling of an eye!