How do I stay positive in a negative world? I’m positive I’ve had brushes with cynicism, brief flings with pessimism, but lately I’ve been feeling less, I don’t know, less confident in the positive aspects of life. In days past, I thought being positive and honest was doing the right thing.
I somehow believed being positive and honest would help me have a ‘good life’, it would make me ‘happy’, maybe even help others have a ‘good life’, but society keeps screaming at me that I’ve got it all wrong. And the screams are getting louder every day.
Dishonest people get what they want.
Greedy people get what they want.
Narcissistic people get what they want.
At least it seems that way.
Maybe I’m over thinking this, being too adult, too mature, maybe Steve Franks got it right in the Psych (best TV series ever or pretty close) theme song, “I’m not inclined to resign to maturity”. If what I saw in the past few years is adulting, then I see why: video games, smartphones, fast food, onesies, drones, vacations, etc. are so popular – they make us feel like children again.
Speaking of feeling like a child, while I still have Netflix for free and returned to Stars Hollow to catch up on Gilmore girls Resurrected (isn’t that the title, it should be).
When I started watching Gg, in 2000, the world was a really different place.
It hadn’t been completely invaded by smartphones, fake news, and lattes – people still talked to each other, only had semi-fake news, and drank basic legal stimulants, er, coffee…
Seven seasons of Gg…still going? Thanks, charming-fast-talkers-narcissistical-wholesome-spend-the-GDP-of-a-small-country-on-food-emotion-stringtuggers who make me feel hungry and slightly brain hurty.
Brain hurt aside, I don’t want to drink the Objectivism koolaid https://yadadarcyyada.com/2013/08/29/the-pursuit-of-happiness-cult/
It revived the ghosts of TV past and present (dare I hope, future?): Smallville, Roswell, Buffy, Charmed, Jared Padalecki – portrayed Dean in Gilmore Girls, later plays Sam in Supernatural, with his brother, Dean played by Jensen Ackles, hmmm, I’m confused https://yadadarcyyada.com/2013/08/26/supernatural-impala/
So, oops, I watched it again…
Apocalyptic/fantasy/historical books, movies, and TV shows are sooo popular: Hunger Games; DoctorWho; Colony; The Matrix; Vikings; Westworld; Grimm; Sleepy Hollow; Game Of Thrones; The Walking Dead; Terminator; Supernatural; Revolution; The Last Man on Earth; Z Nation; Aftermath (you get the point).
Worlds in these books, movies, and TV shows are full of horrible things, really horrible things, but…less consumerism, fewer people arguing over everything and not seeing other people’s points of view, less obvious fakeness, no smart phone dependency, and pimped out coffee – I can learn to handle a crossbow or find someone else who can handle one.
My New Year’s resolutions just begging to be broken…
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Avoid foods that make me feel sluggish, ill, regretful, sigh, oops I ate it again.
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Stop celebrating birthdays. This birthday made me feel my mortality – or was it watching long lists of celebrities who died in 2016, hmmm, I’m far from a celebrity, so I’m probably ok, for now.
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Less watching shows like Van Helsing (the series); it’s good, if you like apocalyptic world orders where life is drained out of people – since Trump was elected POTUS and hacking in general (Russia in particular) is a cool thing now, I’m guessing the answer is a big fat juicy ‘yes’!
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Don’t smirk when I hear stupid or bizarre things, ie. birthday platitudes like, “Your best years are ahead of you”. Really? Saying I’m in midlife wasn’t unrealistic enough? Unless I win a super-duper lottery, and/or get a 50 book publishing deal, https://yadadarcyyada.com/2015/06/21/how-to-get-your-book-published/ and/or start dating David Tennant or James Roday (at the same time?), my best years are years I can only remember (what I can remember). And when people tempt fate at New Year when they say next year couldn’t be any worse (especially this year). Really?
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Live my life with more passion, don’t give in to FOMO https://yadadarcyyada.com/2014/11/08/is-everyone-hanging-out-without-me/ and never run out of Windex, wait, that might all have to do with watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.
I know, you know…
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I doubt my purpose in life depends on being happy all the time https://yadadarcyyada.com/2015/09/20/if-i-had-a-million-dollars/
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I doubt I’d be filled with bliss if #FreshlyPressed (certainly not after the post I wrote, oops, how bridge burny of me) https://yadadarcyyada.com/2015/03/26/why-i-will-never-be-freshly-pressed/
How could you not Freshly Press this face? -
I doubt I’ll be hopped up on unmitigated glee at being the best paid blogger in the world (like to try). https://yadadarcyyada.com/2015/08/27/message-in-a-bottle/ https://yadadarcyyada.com/2015/04/10/im-hooked-on-a-feeling/
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Positive or not, I’m going to ignore aches/pains, lack of millions (coupons and sales rule!), lack of sleep https://yadadarcyyada.com/2016/11/17/follow-your-dreams-go-to-bed/ and other icky life problems. I resolve to give and receive kindness, unabashedly; grab that imaginary oxygen mask on that imaginary plane, breathe in, breathe out, and be as happy as I want to be.
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I’m going to enjoy giving and receiving laughter.
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Enjoy the pineapple.
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Enjoy the music.
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Enjoy the books.
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Enjoy time with family and friends (in person or online).
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Enjoy the cake and cookies.
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Enjoy movies and TV shows.
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Enjoy snow or sun or rain.
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Enjoy smiles.
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Who knows what I’ll gain (Friends, followers? Followers who become friends?).
Welcome to 2017, go out and be!
yadadarcyyada 
If we can write our way out of this great pit we’ve fallen into, we win! Keep on writing, D! Grow older, but NEVER grow up!
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I’m trying, I’m trying. 😉
Hope this week treats you kindly. 🙂
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This post made me unreasonably happy. Seriously, It was like a balm. xoxoxoxo
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I’m so pleased to hear that, Michelle, we need a balm or two or twenty right about now. 😉 xoxoxo
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It gets overwhelming sometimes how fast the world seems to be spinning out of control. The trick is to try and balance it out I think. Of course, I haven’t managed myself yet.
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Balance is the key, for sure.
Hope this week treats you kindly. 🙂
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Enjoy stuff. Don’t watch too much news. The news is depressing and makes me angry.
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The news spends too much time trying to make stories instead of covering important news. I miss facts.
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I’m a big Gg fan – watching if for the second time and love the 4 new episodes released last November. Ahhhh….Stars Hollow…..where coffee cups are gigantic and you can eat junk food nonstop without gaining an ounce. Bliss!
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I agree. It’s a weird show for me, I don’t want to like it, but I do, a lot and I don’t even drink coffee and as for the junk food, if I move to Stars Hollow can I eat like they do? lol 😉
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Awesome post, and even awesomer (yes, auto-correct, if I say it’s a word, it’s a word) gif choices!
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Thank you kindly. Hey, if we don;t make up words, who will? 😉
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Ithink your plan sounds good. And if it is any consolation, Karma is a bitch. Yes it is.
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And Karma has a long memory. 😉
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Ha ha! Funny? Sad? Definitely Smad! I don’t know what words of encouragement to give you b/c I’m going through the same thing (and so are all of my other women friends, interesting). We’re all learning a big lesson here. This will either break our democracy or make it stronger. I’m enjoying wine. And kittens. Good luck!
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I hope this will be a time of introspection, that we won’t get distracted, and instead understand we need to be aware and yes, strong.
Glad to hear about your enjoying. lol 😉
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You can’t go wrong by watching, re-watching, and spot-watching Gilmore Girls. Or by adulting in your own damned way, especially if that means refusing to do it at all some days.
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It’s true, some days, adulting is harder than others, but the Gilmore Girls help, even if they make me hungry. 😉
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This post really resonated with me. It really does feel like it’s the selfish, self-centred, self-seeking people who win at life. They seem to have it all. Sometimes I wish that I could be more like them, but it’s ingrained in me to give others a helping hand and to be outward looking. Sometimes it makes me angry and upset with the world, that morals and good people are not appreciated or valued… but then I realise that being that kind, generous person makes ME happy. I don’t need all their success and friends and money (although it would be nice!) because I make myself happy every day by helping out those around me and seeing their appreciation. Thanks for the thought-provoking post 🙂 #blogcrush
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You got it, Lucy, making others happy makes us happy, you got it. 🙂
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Can I date DT, too? 😉
Let’s all just “adult” as we see fit and continue hoping that kindness will win out in the end! And if it doesn’t….well, there’s always Gilmore Girls…
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He’s a delight, isn’t he?
Yes, there’s always Gg, sigh. 😉
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Yep, they say you’re as old as you feel. That makes me much younger than my chronological age most of the time. MOST Of the time! Other times I feel way older! Q is Quest for Quality as you Build a Better Blog. #AtoZchallenge.
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My body says I’m 90 or so, but my mind keeps telling me I’m young, my heart seems to be agreeing with my mind. Thank you for sharing this, Shirley, this #atozchallenge is daunting, you’re so brave to do it and do it so well. 🙂
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Oh, golly jeepers, I’m sure we’ve already talked about our shared love for GG, but I’m just about to begin my annual binge-a-thon of the entire Psych series tonight! Every year, I watch GG, Monk and Psych and it’s so fun to see that you enjoy 2 of those, as well! So happy you joined us this week at #FridayFrivolity.
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I love Monk too, Lisa, although I haven’t watched it in a few years. Have you read the Monk books? I tried to read them, but the first I read said Monk went down to the laundry room in his apartment building and I thought, what, Monk would never do that, he’d hand-wash every piece of clothing before putting his clothes where other people had put theirs. Hmm, now I want to watch Monk again; now giggling thinking of ‘The Randy Disher Project’.
I never get too far from Psych, it’s my go to happy place.
Enjoy your viewing, hope this week is treating you well. 🙂
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Oh wow, you made me feel happier! Nice touch! #FridayFrivolity ❤
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I’m so pleased to hear that, I hope the feeling stayed. 🙂
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As you know, I’ve had a hard time staying positive these last few months – and most of my life, truth be told.
But having virtual friends in my corner like you helps tremendously. Your work never fails to lift my spirits, even if I don’t always let you know.
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I understand, perhaps not the exact details, but I get that these times can flog us, picking at us, but also know that we’re here and we get it, even “Murdoch Mysteries” can’t solve all our woes. 😉 What do you think of “Frankie Drake Mysteries”?
Consider your spirits always welcome. 🙂
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Sounds like a plan to me#trafficjamweekend@_karendennis
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🙂
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Thank you so much, so kind of you to share my posts. I’m so glad to hear people like my posts, if I can bring a smile, it makes it all worth while. 🙂
Thank you again and again and hope the weekend is good to everyone and the week ahead treats you kindly. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Ian, I’m behind on my comments, but my sentiment remains the same, I am very grateful so this reblog and your kindness. I hope this weekend is treating you well so far. Any ideas for a new title for my bio? 😉
Best wishes today and every single day. xox
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Thank you kindly, Ian, I don’t know if you’re getting these comments, sometimes WordPress plays tricks (no treats) and says No!
Hope this finds you safe and sound. Thank you for the lovely reblog! How delightful!
Stay safe. Stay connected. 🙂
Big non-contagious hugs xoxo
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