No Stupid Questions

I work in disability support. Some of the kids I am working with have gone over the last year from non speaking to using sign and are making real meaningful progress in their self care skills. They can keep going in the face of difficult times, so my problems don't seem so hard.

Also, in Australia we have the NDIS, a system for funding disability supports in a socialised manner without restricting what options someone uses too much. While all governmental systems (or any systems with money) are susceptible to grift progress is being made on catching fraudsters and prosecuting them while also closing the loopholes they exploit. The NDIS will be around for a long time to come and will help Australians with disabilities determine their own futures and make them a reality. There are problems with it but honestly it has been a game changer and I think it is a model for the rest of the world to aspire to.

Prozac.

Most of the stuff you read doesn’t matter. What matters is how you treat people. Eat good food and smile, enjoy the rays of the sun which burn us all equally. Bask in a hot shower. Go outside, where you can’t see any other people for a few hours, and listen to the sounds.

In general, humanity (at least in Europe?) developed positively over the past few centuries. There were of course setbacks, but they didn't last too long and sometimes even lead to great progress. Nevertheless we must fight for progress and shouldn't give up just because the world once again seems to get even worse. Even more important when it comes to problems we have just a tiny period of time to fight against like climate change, we need to act now and can't waste ten years being (ruled by) facists.

I have a teenage son - a wonderful kid who keeps me going.

Not sure what I'm going to do in my dead marriage after he moves out.

Look, If I'm going down, I'm going down kicking and screaming.

I don't know what will happen. It is as much a curse as it is a blessing. Uncertainty is uncomfortable for me, but that very same uncertainty is why I keep going.

Fear of death.

Like its either nothing. Which is in itself terrifying.

Or there could be reincarnation, which is even more terrifying. Imagine being reborn in North Korea. Or if time isn't linear, imagine being some enslaved person in the dark ages.

Or being born in some universe that paranormal stuff are real. And evil creatures chase you all the time.

Or being in a dystopian futuristic world where every newborn is implanted with a mindcontrol chip.

Like nobody knows what happens.

Thats the only reason I haven't killed myself.

When national politics goes to hell, think about your local community. If you and many of the people around you can do okay in your lives, that's not so bad.

Another thing is to consider the comparison point. How are you doing compared with the average person living in Mali or Vietnam or Switzerland? Billions of people all over the world survive in situations that are definitely not ideal, and many of them are happy with their lives some of the time.

Tone down social media use and do a little prepping. Learn how to use mylar bags and properly store away rice, beans, lentils, pastas, etc.

Prep as if the internet is going down for a prolonged time, maybe even electricity in general.

You can stress about things after you've gotten your shit together for a prolonged emergency.

Understand that this isn't the end of the world, just the end of the world as we know it. Humans are notoriously lazy and selfish, it will take a worldwide calamity before we get our collective shit together and do what's right.

The people in charge have failed us for their own selfish interests. There's nothing else to do except prep and make a better tomorrow.

Fuck doomerism.

Oh I gave up like 15 years ago.

My dog can’t feed herself. My family seems to like having me around.

Get off of social media. Other than here I really keep my news to computer stuff that interests me

My friends, family, drawing, having a nice home to live in, good food and fun stuff to do ❤️ I try and avoid negativity by searching for things I'm interested in to engage with, such as art, nature photography, cat photos, and videogames. Some websites let you tailor your feed to your liking!

The alternative seems really boring.

Basically it's self fulfilling if say that. You can believe all that i do too but I don't say it becomes a forgone conclusion as that will make it happen for sure. My thoughts on it are. if it's going to happen im gone to make it as hard as I can for the people that are making it happen and the closer we get to it happening the more radical my actions will become. I will help my community where I can and do my best to make the people responsible pay for their actions. I would read about community network building.

Also there is a YouTube channel Beau of the fifth column that has a lot of great advice. I know the name makes it sound like a crazy person but it's not. They put the news into perspective and talk about ways to help your community. When the government and other social structures are gone.

Also if you want to talk I would be happy to be your penpal.

There is this video that reminds me that there is no natural law that determines that things will only get better. Yet we have to find purpose. I am not hopeful, but I am happy for everyone that tries to do the right thing. We're in this together even if everything goes to shit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJaE_BvLK6U

I think I may still be riding the hype of things like the JWST, and fusion energy breakthroughs. Our societies may be back sliding at the moment, but our species is still doing some amazing things.

Stop caring and all of the problems go away, as if by magic. The amount of emotional energy that people put into issues that they're unlikely to ever face is unbelievably wasteful.

My partner and her cat

Strike that. Reverse it.

My lack of motivation prevents me from ending it all.

Setting aside my depressive episodes and a few signals of impending doom, I look out my window and see a world that is still generally okay around me. That tells me I'm still in a position to go out and try to improve things.

For instance, my family and I got through COVID. To me, that's a kind of privilege, because I certainly know others who weren't so fortunate. So I'm doing my part to ensure another pandemic like that doesn't happen again, or at least isn't so impactful.

Antidepressants

That at any time I want, I can opt out.

I don't have to stay here and put up with the bullshit if I don't want to.

That's also a possibility where I could do something useful by taking someone else out with me, if I can manage to get it done.

You have no idea how freeing it is to be okay with death. When you cease fearing it and look at it as a welcome friend, everything changes.

Now it is important to realize that this is not a desire to die. It's simply accepting that death is inevitable, and that it is possible to choose when and how I die, if that's something that seems useful. Life isn't inherently sacred, there's no special glory in not dying, there's no particular benefit to sticking around other than more of the same that's already happened.

This means that every day is a choice. It's something I own. I have alternatives. We all do, but I'm aware of that fact in a way that makes even the truly horrible much less impressive.

Again, this is entirely different from wanting to off myself, it isn't depression. It's just the way I see things.