Have you ever had a time when you lose your way, and it takes you a while to get back on track.  This is one of those times.  My last post was in 2022, and even though COVID was still affecting the world, things have definitely changed.  In this time of change, hate, lies and discontent, it’s time to start working on changing for the better.  There will never be a better time to step back and really think about the world, and how things are going.

When did it become so easy to lie?  I watch television and stalk the news online.  At times, I will watch news programs, and I’m usually surprised how tainted the news has become.  I don’t know about you but growing up (yes before the cable channels) news anchors tried to report facts.  I didn’t watch much back then, because I wasn’t afraid of what was happening around the country and around the world.  I have been watching more as our political climate has gone to hell (pardon the cussing), and I’m often horrified how our politicians can shape their own truth, and not be challenged.  It also saddens me that the interviewer asks “safe” questions, that really don’t mean anything.  The biggest downfall of the internet has been the ability of people to share lies, deceit, and misinformation for money and clicks.

When did it become so easy to hate others who don’t think like you do?  The other thing the internet gave us is trolls.  Never has it been easier to spread hate and evil.  I remember when I was growing up, and my mother told me “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”.  The internet seemed to give really mean people the place to say anything they want.  It’s a coward’s dream.  Saying things about someone in the dark corners of your home doesn’t come with the emotional toll that the words have on the person’s life.  It removes any emotional consequences or challenges and makes it so much easier to not think that the words have meaning.   We may never be able to make the trolls go away, but we can challenge their hold on us.

When did it become so easy to deny our responsibility in the world?  We all have a responsibility to tell the truth, challenge the liars, and take our country back from the people trying to make us question our future.  Our country was built by people who had faults, but they wanted a better life than they had before they got here.  They unfortunately did it at the expense of the people who lived here, but they created something that I think most people take for granted today.  I admit that I don’t have the courage that some people have.  I read so many articles about people standing up for what is right and fighting against what is not.  I wish I had the courage to do more.  I respect the people trying to change our current climate.  Our country will never be perfect, but I believe we can get back to treating each other with respect.

Our country, and our world, isn’t perfect.  It’s filled with people who want to lie, hate, and tear things apart.  I believe there are more people who believe in truth, respect, and a sense of responsibility to what’s right.  I believe that we can make a difference one person at a time.  We will never be able to keep the hate out of life, but we can turn it down, way down.   It’s all part of being happy, for life.