To ask for some positivity in this hideous world

[CarryOnNurse20]

I try so hard to be positive and optimistic but recently we have had a tough time. Money is already tight, two small kids, anxiety over jobs with covid and disrupted schooling. On a personal level we have had a load of unexpected big costs (new boiler, 3 new wheels for car, washing machine broke, car broke down etc).
On a bigger scale covid and Brexit always. Climate change is almost too big to handle. Gas and electric price hikes, increase in taxes. Shortage of people having babies so economic nightmare ahead (probably just as we are due our pensions).
I feel like every time I try to stand up and steady myself I’m beaten down with a new stick. We all are. How do you stay positive? What’s keeps you happy, keeps you going? Do you feel positive for the future?

I get a lot of joy out of nature. Low sun in the morning or evening. Blue tits in the hedge I planted a few years ago. I'm lucky to have a lot of green space accessible nearby. None of that costs any money, but gives a lot of joy.

Life will find a way.

Music - I very much agree with Nietzsche: 'Without music, life would be a mistake'

Sorry you're having a tough time, OP.

I feel calm a lot of the time, probably because I'm getting older. I spent my youth in daily terror of nuclear war - it didn't happen. Some environmental initiatives have really worked. Maybe enough will? More people are more prosperous and healthier than ever, despite Covid.

I'm amazed at how much my son knows - a lot of it is from YouTube despite my fears of Internet dominated learning. He did learn to read though I was not sure how it would happen. He and his teenage friends are a brilliant generation, kind, active, gentle and accepting. They seem uninterested in getting drunk and high all the time, unlike my generation.

I think your life is very hard right now - its so tough when kids are small. Hold on, ask for help where you can.

I live for love, so I give it out (in appropriate ways, I'm not shagging my neighbour for example but I would waste their plants while they're on holiday). So I just put a much good into the world as I possibly can and that way keep the shadows at bay. That works when I read the latest depressing story about some ghastly human or other. I remember the dinosaurs had a long reign and the earth carried on without them when they went, whenever I feel the human race is in peril this keeps it in perspective. Financially I tend worry if I can't pay the mortgage but that hasn't happened yet (I'm very lucky) I grew up in poverty so the fear of it is less as it is a familiar condition and horrid though it is as long as I can keep my home I'll cope.

@roopy770
Haha! Brilliant haven’t watched that for yonks

Op. Nothing ever changes, not in short lifetimes, the worries of today are almost the same as worries 1000 years ago. The world has consistently been a bit crap, we just see more of it now.

Life is never as bad as you think it is. Take small pleasures. If you can’t do that, then what’s the motherfucking point in all of it!!!

Humour. That's really important. Taking nothing so seriously that after a bit of serious contemplation you can't take the mickey keeps you sane.

Just try and have a bloody laugh. Whenever you can. Even if life is shit

There’s always something funny in a day. Always.

If you’re not ‘that type’ get the laughs going by playing board games or stupid games. Laughing is the tonic.

If that doesn’t work, try a contagious laughter video….the millions of ‘funny vids’ on YouTube might get you going. Fenton, whatever! Or these are some of my favourites to kick start some laughter!

Look at these brave children. Imagine how awful their life is but they are full of courage and hope for the future.

news.sky.com/story/afghanistan-youngsters-protest-online-against-order-telling-girls-not-to-go-to-school-12412246

I am really optimistic, I see my teens and envy them what is about to happen for them. Equally, I count my blessings a lot.

All that stuff you mentioned could happen (doesn't mean it will) but life ticks on and on. People are what make it all worthwhile: children, partners, colleagues to enjoy spending time with, friends etc etc.

Thanks all some great ideas! I definitely try to appreciate the little things and go for nice walks etc as I find nature helps too. I think humour works so well- wfh part time now means less banter with my colleagues and I miss that so much

I hear you. And to top it off, when I got up this morning it was almost DARK!!

I’m getting a light lamp this year.

When I’m finding things hard a listen to a song called The Worst Is Yet To Come by Keb’Mo. Of you have a rather ironic sense of humour like me, it’ll help.

I've got 2 dogs and we walk - I find going out at first light really wakes me up and it's heaven to be surrounded by nothing but bird song and watching the sun rise.

I think I've really grown to appreciate the environment since this pandemic.

I'm in love! This reminds me that there is so, so much beauty and wonder in this world. Sometimes it seems like it is overwhelmed by the bad, but it is always there in the background, quietly reminding us of the good if we only look past the bad.

Anxiety doesn’t change anything though, does it? I mean, we will probably all be OK even if we have to eat rice for a few months and some good will come from it. My advice:-

1. stop reading papers- they scare you deliberately
2. try to live in the moment and really enjoy your time with your young kids- you will look back on those days with joy
3. be grateful for what you have and be sensible with your money
4. meditate

Worrying about what might be is pointless. I like to take five minutes to visualise everything going smoothly, succeeding and feeling good - it cheers me up 100% of the time

@Underamour thanks :) I’m rubbish at meditating but might take up yoga in the hope that that gives me some inner peace!