In terms of personal outlook, nothing.
I work at a college and young adults are far more accepting of each other.
Scientists working on very specific issues that might not seem impactful atm but taken with all other papers of similar rapport, they represent a somewhat unified front working against the destruction of everything we know and love.
My wife flashing me when we’re alone for a moment.
Be sure to flash her back!
It had only been 14 minutes when you took that screenshot
yea
Still funny
For me it’s the fact that I have people I care for and know they care for me. As well as the fact that when you turn of the internet people are not as hatefull as the internet seems them out to be.
My.family and our dog. And lazy Sundays.
Any time I engage with my community.
It’s easy to stay home, doom scroll and think there is nothing we can do. I know I’m lucky to live where I live, where the doom is just distant thunder. But joining community events makes me realize we’re not going to go down without a fight.
Progress in AI. The sooner we build a machine god to judge us, the better. But seriously, it’s exciting to see something so new and different being built at a time when so much human effort is dedicated to destruction.
We’re going through a shaky patch in the UK right now, with fascist wannabes like Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage rising in popularity. It’s sad because I thought we were better than that but then Brexit happened and I wouldn’t be surprised if our next government was a Reform majority. And if they get in they’ll do everything they can to secure power forever.
What keeps me hopeful, in the face of this shitstorm, is the sense of community in my neighbourhood. People on my street look out for each other and support each other.
My short term goal in life right now is to move from where I live to somewhere with a greater sense of community that isn’t based around being old and white
Weed has gotten so much better
And in civilized places, you can do it without fear of imprisonment
Illegal in whole of EU. Personal use is not prosecuted solely in Netherlands, Germany and Portugal I think.
Not true, it’s legal in Missouri.
Still illegal federally. A DEA agent still has the legal authority to arrest you (although, I doubt a jury would actually convict you). A non-citizen caught smoking weed can be denied citizenship if they try to naturalize. And they could face deportation proceedings. Even if you naturalize, if they found out you lied about the smoking weed, the administration could try to denaturalize you, especially this current administration would definitely attempt to.
Really didn’t oversell the username, huh?
The awesome people in the world. The loud, mean ones are easier to spot and spew their crap confidently, but the less obnoxious, actually nice people are everywhere.
Don’t let the media and Internet fool you.
PS: And if you can help a decent human in need, please do.
Getting involved in activities has really helped me see there are a ton of folks out there still doing amazing and positive things.
I’ve started playing music with other people again and we’ve played 2 small public shows and some events where we just play for each other and everyone has been very supportive and we have a great time.
I also volunteered at the wild animal rescue this year, and it’s hard to choose if the people or animals are more amazing. Well, the people are much friendlier than the animals, but seeing the things they can come back from really can feel like witnessing miracles sometimes.
But that’s twice a week I get to hang out with people that help me grows, support me being a better and more rounded person, and we forget about outside troubles and put everything into a positive activity together. It’s been a major help this year.
Idk maybe if I just sick around a bit longer, maybe something good will happen.
I was in that state 10 years ago. Something good did happen and I’m happy I stuck around for it. It was worth all the misery. In fact, the misery raises the value of all the good things.
Did you do something for it happen? Because sometimes I think “Nothing changes, if nothing changes” is true and but then again I get tired of doing things, I’ll spiral back to “I’ll just stick around” mood.
Yes, I changed a lot of things, but I also met a lot of wonderful people that made my life much better.
I do believe that you have to take action. I kinda love being lazy, but I never feel particularly good after an entire day on the couch. The more I do, the more I accomplish, the better I feel.
Seeing resistance in every form. Every spontaneous protest that protects someone from being abducted. Every boss that plants their feet in the door of a business and tells ICE to go fuck themselves. Every notice taped to a business door telling ICE they aren’t welcome. Every fundraiser supporting people afraid to go to work. Every bit of graffiti and sticker on every surface.
The world is both bigger and smaller than our problems. There always ways to make things better better — which is what hope is, right? The idea that if we just stick with it things will get better?
My wife is out of town with her dad, our oldest, and grandson. I’m here taking care of our youngest two. I could be lonely, but yesterday I took my daughter to a state park and we walked some trails. I had hoped we’d run into some horses for her while we were there and damned if we didn’t do just that. 3 Fresians and a Paint — looked like the only ones there based on trailers, and not only were we there at the same time but we crossed paths.
Thrilled my daughter and she got to tell me all about her plans and efforts to own a small farm and horses some day. If anyone else told me without any history of farming they were going to take it up I’d be skeptical, but if anyone can, she can. I’m hopeful for her. This world might just burn to the ground, but that one will achieve her dreams before it happens.
Today between my back and my feet after that walk I can barely stand, but I’m on my deck with a cigar and a beer and a bright sunny day and… the world doesn’t care about me. It has no expectations. Nothing is riding on my shoulders. I can just exist in this moment and look at nature around me and realize all the fire and ice and devastation that must’ve passed through here before has all given way and been rebuilt to the beautiful day in front of my eyes.
It’s hard not to be hopeful, really. There is so much beauty in this world that exceeds the ugliness of this little screen in my hand.
Your mileage may vary.
