What in the World?
Hi and Welcome to the A & J PEI Treasures E Jean Simpson Author Blog Post and Podcast. I’m your host, Jean coming to you from the beautiful Province of Prince Edward Island, Canada!! The blog post and podcast is an opinion piece and only reflects this author’s opinion and not that of any other entity. I hold no designations in politics, economics or medicine. I am retired from the mental health field. I am a humanitarian and speak from that viewpoint only. Whether you agree with me or not, at least I hope it makes you think. This week I write about things in the news and some observations I have made over time. If you want to find out more, then stay tuned…!
There is always something in the news or something going on that makes me shake my head. The latest one is the Trump saga. It seems mostly to be a litany of charges for potential crimes. I use potential because it has to be legally entrenched which it has yet to be. At the same time, there seems to be very little action. It makes me wonder how many things someone in the USA can do and nothing happens. I think most people, if they had a list of charges, there would be some activity. So, is it political or is it being rich that makes for the strangely uncomfortable situation? Now, I have to admit, I am not a citizen of the States, I’m Canadian. My knowledge of politics in my own country is not very extensive and my understanding of other country politics is next to non-existent except for what I see in the news. So, maybe there is something I’m missing in the whole thing. Just seems to me for the amount of really bad sounding stuff that they are talking about, it’s amazing to me that he is still not facing any serious consequences. They are already jailing people from the Jan 6 riots. Of course this is just opinion and conjecture on my part with little to no real knowledge of how these things actually work. I don’t really have the political science interest in order to better educate myself on the topic except minimally. The following article gives an update on the whole situation https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-can.... I suppose the factor of innocent until proven guilty is a thing. I suppose that they want to make sure to follow all the process in hopes that they can make a solid case. So, there might be a process involved. At the same time, some articles have suggested that there is a political aspect to this and differentiate between high profile people and the regular populace https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion.... This seems to suggest a weakness in the judicial system if people are treated differently because of their status. This, in itself suggests a bit of a disparity in legal representation and legal consequences. In a country that prides itself on equal protection under the law how this affects the outcome of cases such as the current charges faced by Trump remains to be seen https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitut.... This also brings into question how some of the States can outlaw some fundamental rights. It is definitely something to consider. Though, as I say, I have no real understanding of US legal process. It leaves me wondering why there is not a lot of legal battling and who gets to decide what fundamental rights are negotiable. Sometimes I think it would be better to have legal and political spheres kept separate. The law should be able to think clearly beyond the needs of politics and toward the lives of the people it serves. One could equally argue the very same thing with regard to politics. So, there is where we are.
The next thing that I find somewhat frightening is that Performers are now being attacked on stage. They don’t call it that, but people are literally throwing drinks (https://www.npr.org/2023/07/31/119115...) and other things including one person’s dead Mother (https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz...) at performers. I had not been aware, but some performers have been literally injured (requiring stitches) by these acts and the Cardi B article states this most specifically. Performers are not meant to be doing battle with their fans and it starts to feel that way when you see the actions of a few ‘fans’. It does not set up a healthy atmosphere for performers nor for their fans. The other thing that people need to consider is if this was your family member up on stage, would you feel comfortable seeing people tossing stuff at them? I think what it will end up doing is having concerts increase safety measures and separate the fans from the performer. It will also leave performers feeling less safe and affect the overall performance of the entertainers. So, please, consider the overall effect of such thoughtless acts. These actions not only ruin it for the performer, but also for the fans. Don’t be that person.
Now, I’d discuss X (formerly Twitter) but apparently someone is feeling a tad litigious at this time. I did find the article interesting about a law suit against a non-profit institution publishing research. https://apnews.com/article/x-twitter-.... It will be interesting to see the outcome of this. Research and tracking didn’t focus simply on the particular forum but on types of interactions. It isn’t just this research forum that has concerns about these topics. It is something that should be a concern in my humble opinion https://apnews.com/article/technology.... So, is this an attempt to shut down researchers in social interaction or is there something more at play here? It also brings up the question about the acceptance of free speech and the safety of research and researchers. It brings up ugly questions like is it safe to question social constructs and societal issues against the far right agenda?
After having given more thought to last week’s blog post and podcast, I have been thinking a little more on achieving peace in the modern age which was last week’s topic. I sometimes wonder if there isn’t so much focus on achieving and maintaining it and being ‘it’ that we lose what ‘it’ actually is. Are we putting too much pressure on ourselves to maintain a state of bliss? Is this a state that should be constant? This gets to be a complicated question by itself. Some people think we should always attempt to achieve and it is the only thing. Then there is also the fact that people are human. This is the thing in life that makes things more complicated. What we need to achieve is balance. In other words, it is OK to feel things. It’s OK to feel terrible about something. It’s OK to feel happy about something. It’s OK to feel. It’s not OK to harm others or oneself because of feelings…but this gets into belief system arguments. No one is perfect and no one will achieve happiness nor peace every single minute of every single day. If you’ve had a difficult time or are going through something, it isn’t going to go away and achieve over night peace. It isn’t going to be constant. With all the stuff going on in the world, some things will trigger feelings that aren’t very peaceful.
So, toward the end of inner peace, here is what you want to do. Start out small. Find one thing, one moment that you feel calm or happy. Learn what it feels like first. Having 60 years on this earth, I can tell you there were times I was supremely miserable. Know what you are feeling. Sometimes things suck. Sometimes things hurt. Most important, don’t imagine anything positive or negative will last forever. It doesn’t and things can change which might not be bad or good. If it has lasting impact and unchanged negative, then consult with a medical doctor. Medication sometimes can bring one to a place of being able to deal with life and sometimes it is as necessary as insulin for coping with longer term issues. I say this because no one would deny someone with diabetes the importance of insulin but mental health meds sometimes people lose all perspective. Find one thing in one day that can make things a little less hard. Find one thing that makes you feel happy or almost happy. I find that in nature I can go for a walk and see some butterflies playing and that always cheers me. I can watch a bird fly. I can see a beautiful flower. I can also find peace in reading. Peace may also be a form of focus. Some work on art work and it takes them out of themselves for a time. It is something that you can focus on just to get a breath in.
Sleeping can be a difficult issue for some and lack of sleep can make things so much worse. At night, I find the sound of the ocean (ambient sound) calming. I had mistakenly thought it might not be accepted overall, however, I find that there are mixed reviews on it. I can attest that my brain is an active critter and focusing on the ocean sounds is calming at least for me https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders.... The article gives a bit of explanation. The ocean may or may not work for you, but as the article suggests, different ambient sounds can be found online and there are apps. Some even like white noise…like static on a TV type sound or fans. It’s a matter of finding what works for you. I have a clock radio that has Ocean sound. After a short time, the ocean sounds help me to relax and find some calm and sleep. There are other methods of reaching peace, including Yoga and meditation, art, music etc. This too is not a one size fits all situation.
Finding inner peace is not an instant gratification type of thing and it is different for different people. It is more like a journey where you can find what works for you. Inner Peace can also be a sort of focus that helps you gain some serenity in your mind. Many people get frustrated and tired trying to find it when it is as simple as a walk in the park, watching butterflies play, doing art or listening to music that you feel speaks to you and helps you find a calming influence. Once you find that feeling, you can work on being able to reach it when you are feeling stressed and for longer periods. It doesn’t take away the reality of human life or emotion. The first and most important step is actually finding that feeling. You’ll know it when you feel it. Even an instant of calm reflection will help you achieve the ability to know the feeling. People think it is a state to reach and it’ll come to you one day. You have to work at it. It is somewhat true. It is a state that you can reach. The modern world makes it more challenging, yet there are more tools to reach it. It’s not impossible. It can be challenging especially if you expect it to just kind of come to you one day out of nowhere. How can you experience something you have no frame of reference for? When you find the feeling, then you can repeat it. You can learn to unlock that magical part of you that can find peace, focus, and calm. It isn’t going to come over night and it isn’t going to magically appear. You will have to find it. This week, I have found two quotes that speak to me with this regard. One is “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” by John F. Kennedy. The other one is attributed to Lyndon B Johnson, “Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.” Whether you agree with me or not, I hope it makes you think. Thanks for listening to my podcast and/or reading my blog post and thanks for your interest in A & J PEI Treasures! Keep watching because we’re always working on something. Thank you!
The podcast that matches this blog post can be found on Anchor FM: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
Blog Posts are available on
WordPress: https://aandjpeitreasures.wordpress.com/ and
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Podcast are available on:
Anchor FM in a variety of formats: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-e-...
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/e-... name a few
All my e-books can be found on:
Smashwords (my Affiliate link): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
You can also find us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EJS08026749
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5zp...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/ej2466
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/e-j-s-151a...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewAandJP...
There is always something in the news or something going on that makes me shake my head. The latest one is the Trump saga. It seems mostly to be a litany of charges for potential crimes. I use potential because it has to be legally entrenched which it has yet to be. At the same time, there seems to be very little action. It makes me wonder how many things someone in the USA can do and nothing happens. I think most people, if they had a list of charges, there would be some activity. So, is it political or is it being rich that makes for the strangely uncomfortable situation? Now, I have to admit, I am not a citizen of the States, I’m Canadian. My knowledge of politics in my own country is not very extensive and my understanding of other country politics is next to non-existent except for what I see in the news. So, maybe there is something I’m missing in the whole thing. Just seems to me for the amount of really bad sounding stuff that they are talking about, it’s amazing to me that he is still not facing any serious consequences. They are already jailing people from the Jan 6 riots. Of course this is just opinion and conjecture on my part with little to no real knowledge of how these things actually work. I don’t really have the political science interest in order to better educate myself on the topic except minimally. The following article gives an update on the whole situation https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-can.... I suppose the factor of innocent until proven guilty is a thing. I suppose that they want to make sure to follow all the process in hopes that they can make a solid case. So, there might be a process involved. At the same time, some articles have suggested that there is a political aspect to this and differentiate between high profile people and the regular populace https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion.... This seems to suggest a weakness in the judicial system if people are treated differently because of their status. This, in itself suggests a bit of a disparity in legal representation and legal consequences. In a country that prides itself on equal protection under the law how this affects the outcome of cases such as the current charges faced by Trump remains to be seen https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitut.... This also brings into question how some of the States can outlaw some fundamental rights. It is definitely something to consider. Though, as I say, I have no real understanding of US legal process. It leaves me wondering why there is not a lot of legal battling and who gets to decide what fundamental rights are negotiable. Sometimes I think it would be better to have legal and political spheres kept separate. The law should be able to think clearly beyond the needs of politics and toward the lives of the people it serves. One could equally argue the very same thing with regard to politics. So, there is where we are.
The next thing that I find somewhat frightening is that Performers are now being attacked on stage. They don’t call it that, but people are literally throwing drinks (https://www.npr.org/2023/07/31/119115...) and other things including one person’s dead Mother (https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz...) at performers. I had not been aware, but some performers have been literally injured (requiring stitches) by these acts and the Cardi B article states this most specifically. Performers are not meant to be doing battle with their fans and it starts to feel that way when you see the actions of a few ‘fans’. It does not set up a healthy atmosphere for performers nor for their fans. The other thing that people need to consider is if this was your family member up on stage, would you feel comfortable seeing people tossing stuff at them? I think what it will end up doing is having concerts increase safety measures and separate the fans from the performer. It will also leave performers feeling less safe and affect the overall performance of the entertainers. So, please, consider the overall effect of such thoughtless acts. These actions not only ruin it for the performer, but also for the fans. Don’t be that person.
Now, I’d discuss X (formerly Twitter) but apparently someone is feeling a tad litigious at this time. I did find the article interesting about a law suit against a non-profit institution publishing research. https://apnews.com/article/x-twitter-.... It will be interesting to see the outcome of this. Research and tracking didn’t focus simply on the particular forum but on types of interactions. It isn’t just this research forum that has concerns about these topics. It is something that should be a concern in my humble opinion https://apnews.com/article/technology.... So, is this an attempt to shut down researchers in social interaction or is there something more at play here? It also brings up the question about the acceptance of free speech and the safety of research and researchers. It brings up ugly questions like is it safe to question social constructs and societal issues against the far right agenda?
After having given more thought to last week’s blog post and podcast, I have been thinking a little more on achieving peace in the modern age which was last week’s topic. I sometimes wonder if there isn’t so much focus on achieving and maintaining it and being ‘it’ that we lose what ‘it’ actually is. Are we putting too much pressure on ourselves to maintain a state of bliss? Is this a state that should be constant? This gets to be a complicated question by itself. Some people think we should always attempt to achieve and it is the only thing. Then there is also the fact that people are human. This is the thing in life that makes things more complicated. What we need to achieve is balance. In other words, it is OK to feel things. It’s OK to feel terrible about something. It’s OK to feel happy about something. It’s OK to feel. It’s not OK to harm others or oneself because of feelings…but this gets into belief system arguments. No one is perfect and no one will achieve happiness nor peace every single minute of every single day. If you’ve had a difficult time or are going through something, it isn’t going to go away and achieve over night peace. It isn’t going to be constant. With all the stuff going on in the world, some things will trigger feelings that aren’t very peaceful.
So, toward the end of inner peace, here is what you want to do. Start out small. Find one thing, one moment that you feel calm or happy. Learn what it feels like first. Having 60 years on this earth, I can tell you there were times I was supremely miserable. Know what you are feeling. Sometimes things suck. Sometimes things hurt. Most important, don’t imagine anything positive or negative will last forever. It doesn’t and things can change which might not be bad or good. If it has lasting impact and unchanged negative, then consult with a medical doctor. Medication sometimes can bring one to a place of being able to deal with life and sometimes it is as necessary as insulin for coping with longer term issues. I say this because no one would deny someone with diabetes the importance of insulin but mental health meds sometimes people lose all perspective. Find one thing in one day that can make things a little less hard. Find one thing that makes you feel happy or almost happy. I find that in nature I can go for a walk and see some butterflies playing and that always cheers me. I can watch a bird fly. I can see a beautiful flower. I can also find peace in reading. Peace may also be a form of focus. Some work on art work and it takes them out of themselves for a time. It is something that you can focus on just to get a breath in.
Sleeping can be a difficult issue for some and lack of sleep can make things so much worse. At night, I find the sound of the ocean (ambient sound) calming. I had mistakenly thought it might not be accepted overall, however, I find that there are mixed reviews on it. I can attest that my brain is an active critter and focusing on the ocean sounds is calming at least for me https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders.... The article gives a bit of explanation. The ocean may or may not work for you, but as the article suggests, different ambient sounds can be found online and there are apps. Some even like white noise…like static on a TV type sound or fans. It’s a matter of finding what works for you. I have a clock radio that has Ocean sound. After a short time, the ocean sounds help me to relax and find some calm and sleep. There are other methods of reaching peace, including Yoga and meditation, art, music etc. This too is not a one size fits all situation.
Finding inner peace is not an instant gratification type of thing and it is different for different people. It is more like a journey where you can find what works for you. Inner Peace can also be a sort of focus that helps you gain some serenity in your mind. Many people get frustrated and tired trying to find it when it is as simple as a walk in the park, watching butterflies play, doing art or listening to music that you feel speaks to you and helps you find a calming influence. Once you find that feeling, you can work on being able to reach it when you are feeling stressed and for longer periods. It doesn’t take away the reality of human life or emotion. The first and most important step is actually finding that feeling. You’ll know it when you feel it. Even an instant of calm reflection will help you achieve the ability to know the feeling. People think it is a state to reach and it’ll come to you one day. You have to work at it. It is somewhat true. It is a state that you can reach. The modern world makes it more challenging, yet there are more tools to reach it. It’s not impossible. It can be challenging especially if you expect it to just kind of come to you one day out of nowhere. How can you experience something you have no frame of reference for? When you find the feeling, then you can repeat it. You can learn to unlock that magical part of you that can find peace, focus, and calm. It isn’t going to come over night and it isn’t going to magically appear. You will have to find it. This week, I have found two quotes that speak to me with this regard. One is “Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” by John F. Kennedy. The other one is attributed to Lyndon B Johnson, “Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.” Whether you agree with me or not, I hope it makes you think. Thanks for listening to my podcast and/or reading my blog post and thanks for your interest in A & J PEI Treasures! Keep watching because we’re always working on something. Thank you!
The podcast that matches this blog post can be found on Anchor FM: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
Blog Posts are available on
WordPress: https://aandjpeitreasures.wordpress.com/ and
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Podcast are available on:
Anchor FM in a variety of formats: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-e-...
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/e-... name a few
All my e-books can be found on:
Smashwords (my Affiliate link): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
You can also find us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EJS08026749
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5zp...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/ej2466
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/e-j-s-151a...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewAandJP...
No comments have been added yet.
A & J PEI Treasures/E Jean Simpson, BEd, BA, MA
A & J PEI Treasures is located on Prince Edward Island, Canada. We are a husband and wife team and our companion animals. There are a number of things that drew us to the Island…one of which was the n
...more
- E. Jean Simpson's profile
- 2 followers
