Monday Moaning: Happy Ego!
Okay the title this week might be a bit over the top but it does not stop me from using it. After all it is titles and fat pressed headlines like that that draw our attention. Though these days that might not all be true anymore.
In the past few weeks, months even, I have lost myself and started distancing from the world around me. I felt like rebelling to today’s happy-go-lucky idea that is being pushed upon us. Or maybe it is just my stupid mind playing tricks with me.
Either way I did notice things that felt peculiar and strange. Complete opposites next to each other and we only seem to see one of them.
Sure enough pay attention and you do start to see things, sometimes even things that aren’t there. But I am pretty sure I am not the only one seeing them as people d talk about them.
The mind is a funny thing as it works with and against us at the very same time. It stops us in our track when we sense danger, it can make us believe things that aren’t real and create an euphoria in an instant.
But what is going on with us?
I know I can be a bit cold hearted, hell as if I care. Though all I am doing is setting a different priority. There are things I do care about but can’t linger over for to long.
One year it has been since the MH17 got shot down. Yes we had a great fantastic memorial day. We all got to feel miserable again. Being reminded of such moment.
Still my mind went like: “What the fuck. Why do I need to be reminded of something like that. Why is the news busy reporting this while kids sit next to their parents at the side walk of a church hoping for a bag of groceries at a local food bank.”
I know it is cruel but we can’t keep wondering in the past. And this is something reported by a news program on TV.
Since there are different kinds of news programs let me say this is the one that used to be, and I do think that way, the best and foremost important news. It is the one, I as a youngster would call the old farts news. And even today it holds that name.
Now I understand that the lives lost in that event are ones that should not have been taken in the first place. But I am not sorry, I can’t be not even for us humans being dumb and stupid. And though I am sad it is not because they got shot. I am sad we think we need to remember the past and forget about today.
Each of us have something to remember in their country. We even remember the fallen of WWII. But they died so we, today, can live in freedom. Not to make us feel down and stupid.
Back to the news. The program is a distinguished one and still the news in the past weekend was about the ending of Ramadan. No I have nothing against it. I am just wondering how that could be news. And important news at that.
Not to mention that the same news talked about the fact we spend more money this year on fireworks. This was January.
Apparently we are doing very well while being in a crisis. After all that is all we do hear. We are doing better and spend more money. Yet the truth is all that fabulous. Sure enough the glass is a little more than half full.
Everywhere I look I see people smiling, talking about the rich and famous and how wonderful it all is. Yes the picture of playful children in a pool catches our eyes better than the headline beside it. ‘more people in debt’.
A small column describing how parents beg to stay in a house but are being evicted from their home with their new born. Next to a big article about the new found agreement with Greece.
It is things like that, that make me sad. We are unable to help those living next door. Pushing more budget cuts on everyone so we can show off how good we are.
The way a headline is written is also something. As it makes you feel relieved it wasn’t you. Which in return gives a sense of being happy even if it is a little. Or the headline that make you feel proud to one of those helpful ones or caring ones.
Ridiculous to think we have become so hard in a sense we almost forget to care about our very own neighbours. Over time we have put up a shell and thought of only ourselves.
The other kind of news we have is the kind I already mentioned. The kind that talks about the rich and famous. How easy they can divorce and remarry and have a new child. How they are looking beautiful in their bathing suit. It gives us dreams and hopes of what we want.
It makes us happy. And smile as it takes us away on that same tropical island.
The sad memorials give us a bad feeling. But the next day when normal life starts we all are happy to be alive.
Still I must be missing something. As everyone is in their own world. Glued to a 6 inch screen with apps that make them feel important and happy. A private world that keeps them occupied and maybe blinded to what is around them. It has become a virtual shell we put around us like a warm blanket.
I for one threw away my smartphone. I had it with that thing. If one wants to contact me it will take a little more effort. If one is truly a friend they will have that time or make time.
Distancing myself may not be an answer, and it sure has its effect on me as I even lost touched with who I am. I am angry and sad. Frustrated that I want to help but do not have the means to help all. Doing what I can to see a person smile makes it worth it but is see so much more.
My mind is in turmoil and for that I even been unable to write my usual stories. I lost them and slowly am trying to find myself again. It may take time but I will make sure to make some great smiling opportunities along the way.
All I do hope is that we can look away from the screen and see the real world for what it is. For what is truly going on. Because our world is bigger than a 6 inch screen. Happening more, than what has happened in the past. It isn’t all hopes and dreams.
It is a world that is kept in the now where we worry about what was and forget about what could/should be.
Best Wishes
Ranting Crow
PS. I know I am bitching but at least it got you thinking.
Ranting Crow 