Sunday 8 January 2023

Happy New Year?

 I know I am late to the show but 'good riddance to bad rubbish'.

 Can 2023 be as bad as 2022 was?There are those who say it will be even worse. The end of 2022 was the time when I literally had sleepless nights for the thoughts percolating inside my skull. Poverty, war,  social and political disintegration, the health system collapsing, people debating what to go for, eating or heating. The homeless freezing in bitter cold, single mothers, pensioners, people on the minimum wage, resorting to food banks and, this winter, for the first time, to warm banks; working people taking on several jobs and still unable to make ends meet. And the rich getting richer all the time. Energy firms laughing in the face of our children's future, making heaps of money, crooks making millions out of Covid by supplying unusable PPE (personal protective equipment) and walking off with the cash, unhindered. 

I am spitting nails.

The impulse when one has seen as much chaos and unkindness for so many years is to turn your back on it. Greed is everywhere, lending a helping hand or doing a kindness are concepts which appear to be getting lost in the general praise for taking care of number one.  I am one of those cowards who find coping with the state of the world ever harder, turning my back on it all easier and easier to do.

That is wrong too, it makes me into just another 'me-me-me'. But what is there one individual can do? What can we do? Maybe kindness is the answer. Kindness to each other and kindness to our environment, our planet. If we think of kindness, the freedom to be our best selves may follow. 

That is my wish and personal resolution for 2023.

I have been poorly and very lonely for most of December, I have still not quite recovered but things are looking up. It is probable my physical health has played a part in my emotional unhappiness but the despair at what I see and read day after day is no less real for that. 

I promise to be kinder in 2023, to myself and others.



24 comments:

  1. Certainly, first of all, be kind to yourself and the rest will surely follow. Being ill and alone affects mental health, and long, dark nights don't help. The days are slowly lengthening, and bulbs and buds and birds are all welcoming Spring and one day the sun will shine more than fitfully between showers/downpours. Happy 2023, Friko - it must be better than 2022, 2021, 2019 . . .

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  2. Are you sure you aren't talking about the US? I started volunteering at the local food/clothing/housewares/financial aid bank two years ago. I feel like I'm doing something to help those less fortunate. Maybe you can find a volunteer opportunity in your area.

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  3. You can do nothing about the world, but you can do a lot about yourself - not the garden, not the house, but you, your persona. Yes me, me, me - that's all that is left.
    2023 might be worse than its preceding year : WW3 is at the door because of Ukraine, rise in prices, shortage of food, street violence. So, start working on yourself, Friko dear!

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  4. Friko, I understand how you feel that way... no, maybe not understand entirely as I still have DH and family around so life isn't lonely, but I think you can't put all the woes of the world on your shoulders. Yes, being kind and being generous (with your time and/or your money) is a good path, but I read recently these little words and I thought, perhaps this is true. It was: "Turn off the news. Go outside. Breathe. We were not meant to carry the burden of the entire world. Perhaps technology gives us too much info...

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  5. I hear you. Too loud and too clear. Kindness never goes astray and is perhaps the only antidote for the current state of the world. Self kindness is a hard one for me, but needed.
    I do hope for the year(s) to come, but wonder whether I am being naive.

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  6. Yep, kindness is the key, I think. I try to do what I can for others and let the rest go.

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  7. I am sorry to hear you have been lonely - my 'kind' wishes to you that thing get better in the year ahead. You are right kindness - and generosity - are qualities we need right now

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  8. I'm rarely around blogland these days U, but I'm pleased that you are. Indeed let's hope that 2023 is better. I too, will endeavour to be kinder, in every way possible.
    Many people think loneliness an easy thing to fix...do this or that, join this or that, try this or that. Well, in my experience one can indeed do ALL of that and still be lonely. Keeping posting, won't you. X

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  9. I wish you better health and connection in the new year, and yes, kindness is the key to a lot. Hugs to you!

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  10. I respect you deeply and it is a wonderful echo to read this because I have to determined that the word for 2023 must be kindness and that it must be more than a word. It's what I can do where I am and I believe in it's far reaching a fact. I suspect older people have always felt that the world is going to hell, even when it hasn't been. As it is in this moment. Everything is changing all at once. We are awash in uncertainty. But I think the vast majority of people are coming to similar conclusions and will work together to repudiate the extremes and bring common sense and common good back. I hope so. Time I see a young family with children. I'm wishing you all the best from deep in my heart. My choosing to live in Hawaii over 30 years ago seems a wiser decision every day that passes. Just being here is enough. Best wishes to you always

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  11. Like everyone else, you want to live in peace, with no immediate worries about where you will find your next meal or a place to sleep. You have all that, but your health is not the best, and you are lonely. I am sorry to read that and hope that your resolve to kindness helps. Volunteering, as has been suggested in other comments, is certainly a good idea, but not everyone can make such a committment, especially not when health issues can come in between.
    You are a well educated and well read woman, Friko, and in theory know all the things that do you good. Applying yourself to them is not always easy, but I hope you will succeed and make 2023 a better year for yourself.

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  12. A little bit of kindness both to one's self and to others can certainly go a long way.

    Frohes neues Jahr wünsche ich Ihnen!

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  13. With all that's going on in the world we have to work at not letting depression take over our thoughts. Lots of people here in the States have adopted 'kindness' as their goal for 2023. Perhaps collectively around the world we CAN make a difference. Be sure to start with being kind to yourself.

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  14. I'm sorry you haven't felt well in December -- and still. And I hope that eases up. I'm sure you are right about how your physical being affects your mental outlook and world view -- well, at least it does for me. I told Rick the other day that I felt broken and that seems to affect everything that passes through my mind, even though I pretend to be ok, hoping to fool myself into jolliness. Or at least not global despair. You're right about kindness, though. It make a difference. And really, it's so easy. Doesn't cost a cent (unless you want it to) -- it just takes time and thought.

    Be kind to yourself, my friend. And do what it takes to heal. We have to believe the sun will come out. Maybe not tomorrow. But it will.

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  15. Kindness must begin at home, with you treating yourself kindly. Our physical and mental conditions are so entwined and I hope that with improved health you will feel better emotionally, as well.
    The world is indeed a dark place these days, so very broken, and despair is not an unreasonable response. When despair threatens to overtake me, I take comfort in my faith and hope for the day when all things shall be well.
    Kindness, yes. Always.

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  16. Kindness does start with each of us. I live by the verse, Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. Sadly, many others di not. The world situation is terrifying as the inflated prices of food and EVERYthing. 2022 was a bear. Think if you and be kind to yourself. It is a lonely world soemtimes, but you do have readers. Sending a virtual hug from the middle of the U.S. in Missouri.

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  17. You are right, kindness is the main thing. I am sorry that you're not feeling too good, and I know the feeling of getting upset through looking at the news. But I am not sure that things are any worse than they have always been - and may probably be better. Some of our feelings are about how we personally interpret and experience things. So your idea of focusing on better things is a good one and I hope you feel more cheerful soon.

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  18. I hear you Friko, I just posted on another blog who was writing about all the improvements he sees vs 1960 or so and frankly I just see the deteriorating and I have the stats to prove it. Most think (privilege screaming!) that we are all sorted now when we are on the confluence of catastrophes of various human made downslides. Nuclear war hasn't been this close since the sixties, flooding, fires, starvation world wide. I could go on. But yes, kindness is my mantra for 2023 too and adaptability which I embraced in 2022.
    XO
    WWW

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  19. I concur with Ms. Lorrie: always be kind to yourself this will help in turn be kind to others. It is all too easy to succumb to the nasty things in life and be bitter.

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  20. Hi Friko - I am so sorry that you've had such a bad time in the past weeks - let's hope the lighter weather improves things, though life's situation isn't that helpful. I just do what I can for others, but also step off the bandwagon to make sure I get through ... I only do voluntary organisational work and being here ... so I'm around people - Eastbourne is lucky for me that way ... and I cannot say how grateful I am that I started the blog - friends here too. With lots of thoughts from down here - take care in this dreadful weather we seem to be having ... and a few hugs - Hilary

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  21. Friko, I hope 2023 will be a healthy and upbeat year for you, and for all of us. When you carry out acts of kindness as you are aiming to do you improve the world with a ripple effect. I am sending you hugs from California.

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  22. Late here, but I hope you are feeling better. At first I thought I was reading about the US and the unkindness and selfishness…Mary

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  23. Late here, but hope you are feeling better. When I first read your post I thought you were talking about the US with all the meanness and corruption.

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  24. Nice post thank you Julie

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