I will be accused of being hyperbolic. Melodramatic. Perhaps I complain too much. Might my standards be too high?
It’s not that bad, they will say, or think. You still have a house and a husband and a relatively stable life. Just think of those miserable folks in . . . And all those who . . . And don’t forget the starving children in . . .
All over the place. Like, seriously, all over the god-damned place, and still everywhere, also, simultaneously, I hear such minimizing, avoidance, redirecting, marginalizing ‘advice’ from those high on their horses.
So if my experience, this time, is not as hellish as the last time, or as his or her or their experiences, on our vast continuum of hellishness, I should just move on. Get over it.
No matter how hard it gets, the social contract requires you stay positive, hopeful, forever gazing over the rainbow at the future potential for success, and perpetually focused on the life lesson.
It’s not hard, it’s challenging. It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity. It’s not theft, it’s redistribution. It’s not a real lie, it’s a lie of omission. It’s not a failure, it’s a stepping stone. You’re not beat, you’re regrouping.
I still get counseled from others, unwanted advice (well-meaning I’m sure in their own minds) on how to see the bright side.
As if I don’t know how to do it! I was born and raised painting a silver lining on every cloud. I’m American, we’ve written nearly every script on this bullshit.
But, I grew up and got over it.
I was also a teacher for 20 years and sometimes I was actually a good one. Ok, maybe only occasionally, but that counts.
When I was good it was because I was tough, but fair. Not nice. Not compromising. Not lenient or understanding. Not painting rosy pictures or being sweet and kind.
And in such moments of lucidity it became very obvious to me that most students fail due to one thing: unrealistic expectations.
Our culture is saturated with them. Because it’s really, really good for business.
Lots of students sincerely wanted to learn the foreign language I was trying to teach them, and certainly had the smarts to do so because it’s not difficult, even a child can do it. And almost always does!
But they bought the hype of some advertisement or second hand story from a braggart who swears anyone can learn a language in three months by listening to tapes on their work commute. They bought the expectation the process would be smooth sailing all the way.
They are a lot like these types who are constantly insisting everyone see the bright side of every situation. They’re all like mood police. Like moms who make kids ‘kiss and make up’ while they’re still seething inside. Emotional bullying based on unreasonable expectations. It reminds me of an awful photo I once saw of a child model posing for the camera with a forced smile on her face though her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
So, with all that out of the way, this summer has SUCKED for me.
There, I’ve said it. I haven’t written a Homestead Happenings in months in order to avoid having to try to make it palatable for readers. I know how to paint the silver lining on it. But, it also irritates me that those are the only kinds of stories we’re allowed to tell in mixed company. If there’s not some triumph over adversity, keep it to yourself.
If there’s not gratitude somewhere for the gift of life, no one wants to hear it. Stop whining. Get over it. Make lemonade.
I know. I can hear it.
a song that fits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kElHR66Y3es
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Good one, thanks H!
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you absolutely have the right of it. the fake feel good all the time, unrealistic and damaging as well. i don’t bother trying with most people anymore. after the covid con game we pretty much lost all our friends and family because we would not play the game by their rules. i never was good at playing by the rules set by the fake empty society.
many years have gone by since my school days but the school had a fight ground. yes…a fight ground. with boxing gloves and face shields. the rest is up to you….no sucker punching. but it got used and the teachers stood around taking bets and also making sure no one get hurt except their feelings.
today….it would shocking!! how dare you!! the bullshit society….big brother is watching you we live 1984 in an unreality. i wake up most mornings and say…yep another day in hell!! not that my life sucks like most peoples do it doesn’t….it is the watching people go ‘bat shit crazy’ and tear the world apart…airplanes spraying us like bugs every day….chemical cold. chemical freeze. government goons squeezing us for the last drop. and the lying new repeaters saying what they are told to say like the movie with robin williams….Good Morning Vietnam….with twin censors racing through the pages with a black markers….that is the world we live in…..one more layer of Dante’s rings of hell. The Divine Comedy!
as for sucky year…yep….started out bad and never improved…one thing after the other. the year of the dragon…i like dragons but this year i have been fed on by the dragon that rules this year and torn to pieces. going down its gullet kicking and screaming.
so many things have happened to hurt us this year that i kept a log of it….if i have 1 week where hell didn’t kick me in the backside i considered it a good week! and each time it did happen i said ”REALLY!? ”
we lost animals, fences, excessive need for a vet this year just from weird things that never happen! ….money loss. roof damage. leaks that wrecked the porch. concrete cracking. barn roof blown off by the man made weather. work related issues that almost had me unemployed. for 3 months…back and forth…back and forth…lay offs…no lay off…lay off no lay off….fired…not fired….good to go…nope…one and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on! engine blew in the truck….one thing after the other!! all year! a few good things happened but not the majority by any stretch…we call this the year from hell! the doors of hell must have flung open wide!
my best friend in another state!!! same type stuff….ALL YEAR!! her version but yeah…one things after the other.
it is my belief you have to see reality for what it is and putting a positive spin on it is like putting gas on a fire! for god sake…sometimes things just SUCK…MAN…and are awful….i really really really do not like people with air for brains that have to see the good side. they won’t see the real. just the fantasy in their own twisted world. they get wacked with something and they do the airy fairy thing. and i want to slap them or scream!!
my answer to it was tell them to go pound sand and take your unreality of life elsewhere!! i prefer to see things for how they ARE…not how i wish them to be like they do…and that my friend is the reason the world has sunk so deep into the abyss….because people WON’T see it for what it is…refuse to! and will go to their grave believing it be otherwise.
just my 2.00 dollars worth….too lengthy to be 2 cents!! have a great day…and know that at least you see things for how they are!! reality instead of fantasy. yes it can be ugly but i prefer the real to the wish.
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Thanks H, so nice I can count on you for some emotional solidarity! Too bad you don’t still have a blog, because the current blogger theme sounds way too much like ‘wannabe life coach’.
At least we still have Decker! In fact, in the broader cyber sphere, we also have Dane and Crazy Carol, all very reliable witnesses and reporters of our modern Circus Asylum. So, now the life coach blogging circle can all be happy I’ve just painted on my silver lining! 😆
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This was the year of the dragon? I did not know this, how interesting.
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yes…chinese new year!! and i am mouthy old person who honestly doesn’t care much anymore…..the world is going to hell in a handbasket and people are cheering it….makes no sense to me. they are the reason it is going to hell. because they REFUSE to see how evil it has gotten. and refusing to see it and know it and stop giving it airy fairy flower power. patting it on the back and say…oh,,,its is all okay…we are okay..your okay…to evil….they enable it….and encourage it dig deeper into darkness. and then they cheer it again and gain and again….
i had, past tense, people i knew that were exactly like that and i insulted with with my beliefs and thankfully they left us alone after that. they are enablers. the world won’t improve because they have positive attitude what it does is see it as a mandate to get worse. because no one will pick up the pitchforks and torches. oh no….can’t do that…not civilized.
i quit blogging for that reason really. i was and am the square peg and i don’t fit. and never will. don’t want to either.
I Truly believe that people could watch their children being drug into the street and shot and they would find a positive about it…oh, that poor man didn’t know what he was doing…poor baby….my child just was in the way….that sort of thing. airheads. nothing between the ears. certainly resembling critical thought.
sorry to rant…you touched a nerve with this old weirdo. but i do agree with your assessment far better then i could put it. and you and decker haven’t banned me yet so i must not be too difficult to deal with…thank you for that! allowing me to have a say without kicking me to the curb.
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Your rants are welcome here, old mouthy weirdo! 😆🤗
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