I feel lost.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Ever since 45 was sworn in, I feel lost. Only way I can explain it. When I'm at home, I keep the TV off, save for a hand full of shows that have nothing to do with news. Not as involved like I use to be. I just walk away from those that spew 45's nonsense instead of standing up and pointing out the flaws. Just don't know how to get my soul back. And that what it feels like, that the right found a way to strip me of my soul. Am I the only one? Is there anyone that has been able to rise from this darkness that I am feeling?

[Warpy]

1. Yeah, it's no fun having a bunch of Russians take our country away from us

by appealing to the lowest sort of human beings, the xenophobes and bigots.

Watching Dolt45 become more and more isolated, though, is a good thing. Slowly but surely he's losing access to all the people who put him where he so clearly doesn't belong. Once he's completely isolated, he will soon be gone.

You can't hide what he is forever. People always notice things like dementia, narcissism, and profound ignorance that refuses any attempt at education.

[mahina]

3. Word.

[mahina]

2. I prescribe a steady course of art and music.

We are in a dark place, all of us, together. It just seems like you are alone.

Without music and art we would have little light at all.

This will be the past, eventually. Rise up and resist, as we can.

I can't listen to that man on the news either...if he's talking, the radio or telly or whatever goes off. Why bother listening when he's only lying anyway?

Sending you light and a prayer to the one.

https://m.

Kamamakakaua

E ala ku'e! Ku'e! Ku'e! : Rise up and resist, resist!

[mahina]

5. Keb'Mo lifts my heart, hope he lifts yours too.

https://m.

Depression in this moment is a very rational response. Not trying to make happy talk. Just sending some good vibes. Aloha no.

[ananda]

11. Yes

My go-to music lately has been Gilbert and Sullivan.

It may be tuneful and often hilarious, but it's got our
our whole culture, society, and political situation nailed
in a really uncanny fashion.

A lot of the counter- culture stuff does this even better
but it's not nearly as tuneful or entertaining.

Since thinking about 45 and literally our whole society's
collapse into chaos, corruption, treason, and warmongering
is so dark and painful, I found that it's easier to look at
through the lens of humor and true entertainment sometimes..

That probably explains why SNL and the humorous talk shows
are so popular as well!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. You have to know you're not alone in this.

I stopped watching the news during the campaign, couldn't stand to see or hear that orange bloviating face, so as soon as it appeared, I'd change the channel. I couldn't wait for the election to be over so I'd never have to see or hear from him again. These days, I alternate between feeling angry and scared, depending on what idiocy is in the news each day. But it does help to know I'm not alone. I thought 2004 was bad, but at least I had DU. And I still do during this unbelievable nightmare. Plus, I have like minded friends. That does help. And I really like your sig line. Knowing I'm among people who feel this way makes me feel stronger, too...

[vlyons]

6. A lot of people feel as you do

I was so distraught right after the election that I had thoughts of suicide. I'm a retired 70 yr old and depend on social security and medicare. But as a Buddhist, I realized that I needed to calm down and get a grip. You need to do that too. You can't let your mind feed on hopelessness and powerlessness. You need to find the courage in your heart to make your life meaningful. Yes we live in degenerate times, but we need to stay calm and find a way to deal with the situation that is of benefit to others.

Trump and his merry band of criminals and traitors are just that. We cannot change them to be better, more virtuous people. We can only change ourselves to be better, more virtuous people. The classical Greek virtues are wisdom, moderation, courage, and justice. For me that means doing my small part, what I can do to help Dems WIN ELECTIONS. Nothing ever changes until there is a critical mass assembled to effect a change. Not in physics. Not in politics. A critical mass of us needs to agree that Trump and Republican criminality cannot, will not be tolerated and left to stand. So that means that each of us must find the courage to not allow ourselves to sink into indifference and hopelessness. If tuning out news shows helps you to stay calm, then that is a good first step to find and regain your courageous heart. The next important step is to find some way to get involved locally, to work with others in your community to make a difference for the better. The road to happiness is to work for the benefit and happiness of others. It doesn't much matter how or where you choose to do that work. You can let your natural skills and life experience guide you in that regard. You can get involved in working in the campaign of a local running for office, teach a Sunday school class, coach a kid's sports team, volunteer to do meals on wheels, whatever. If you look around, you'll find that your life has target-rich opportunities to make a difference. But the important thing is to find a need where you can work for the benefit of others. These degenerate times are not about our own sad situation, even tho' they may be very sad indeed. These degenerate times are where we earn merit and gain wisdom in the effort to make the world better and bring some happiness and a better life to others.

So don't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself. That will not help you to regain your soul and be happy. Sorry if this reply seems harsh. My intention is to hear your despair and encourage you to calm down, get a grip, and find the courage in your heart to get busy working for the benefit of others.

I say the Buddhist prayer of the Four Immeasurables several times a day, and it helps me a lot to stay grounded and not sink into depression.

The Four Immeasurables -

May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes and conditions of happiness.
May they be free of suffering and the causes and conditions of suffering.
May they never be disassociated from the supreme happiness which is without suffering.
May they remain in the boundless equanimity, free from both attachment to close ones and rejection of others.

- Sending you a little ray of sunshine

[Nwgirl503]

7. Me too

I could write for hours about how deeply this has affected me. I've never particularly been into politics, just a general observer, but this election has exposed something horrible and deep. I see people in my daily life in a whole new light, as I also see myself. I've never had a more me-against-them attitude as I have now. I feel like I'm living in the twilight zone most days. I don't know how there's ever going to be a coming together of differing positions again after this. I feel like I have to prepare myself for the worst possible scenario. I've been making plans to get out of the country with my son since 11/8. I'm despondent and demoralized. Some days I'm also revved up for a fight, but that's just when I'm feeling strong, which is not all the time. With the GOP running everything, it seems like we're all swimming upstream with a dam being the only thing at the end of it all. I'm irrationally angry all the time. I feel like my emotions, when I'm not stuffing them, are almost out of control. I find myself wishing disgusting things on perfect strangers. And that's almost what bothers me the most. That's not who I am. But this is what I've been diminished to. I can't believe this is real life and I can't believe how many people I know who are either not interested at all or who have a total laissez faire attitude about it all and just see it as "another stupid election" that doesn't matter or have consequences.

I've never felt this way in my 43 years.

[secondwind]

8. You speak for me. I live in a red state

and am not mingling with neighbors anymore. I have not participated in book club, or walking after dinner, nothing. I am afraid I won't be able to contain myself, and will lash out at the cretins who voted for this POS

[catbyte]

9. I was like that for months, not watching the news, my tv permanently tuned to Dog TV or

the classical music channel. I've never felt like that before. I'm starting to come back, though, with the revelations about Russian collusion, but I'm still not back all the way. I still get a knot in the pit of my stomach every time he rapes the environment or commits another outrage with one of his evil EOs, but I'm starting to bounce back. Give it time. I felt personally betrayed by this election--especially by my fellow women who voted for that orange sack of shit. I will never, ever forgive anybody for voting for him. I've cut off people I've known for 40 years because of this "election." You are not alone.

[anniebelle]

10. You are not alone.

I don't think I've slept through a single night since this horror show took over our country. Like you, I avoid all news, but it's hard to escape if you're on the internet ~ it just seeps through everything like some insidious mold. I still watch John Oliver, Sam Bee and Trevor Noah, but even there, they show so many clips of these criminals, you can see any chance of a democracy swirling down the drain. I live in a very RED state so talking to my neighbors or even while shopping, I hear this constant hum in the background of tRump propaganda ~ SAD!

[Useless in FL]

12. You and me both!

It's very hard for me to see all the progress we have made under Obama QUICKLY unraveling. I just read in the paper this morning that the FCC has accelerated the deregulation of broadcast TV ownership, etc. The wealthy are going to own it all and control everything we do, see, read, write.....everything.

[Hortensis]

13. No, Lady Freedom. I feel like the right is endangering our democracy.

I see less of conservative acquaintances than before, but it's because I'm very angry and disgusted at them, and worried. Nothing to do with my own soul.

Do you perhaps feel as if you've lost your social moorings, your sense of belonging from all this? I'm a nonbeliever transfer to Georgia from California, and I know it'd be different if this estranged me from old friends and groups I'd always considered "my people."

Maybe get more involved with your local Democratic Party? Become a volunteer and work with others who feel as you do about contributing meaningfully to the community, regardless of politics. Doing anything positive would probably help you get back to normal,make you feel more powerful and confident.

If it's really bad, maybe talk to your doctor to see if some kind of mood stabilizer would help for a while?

[luvMIdog]

14. yes yes I was there. I just very recently found my second breath again . Hang in there

[Snarkoleptic]

15. Now is the time to double-down!

Mrs. Snark has become a public official in our town and I'm now a precinct committee chairman.

Do not despair.
Take over the system and be the change you want to see!

[CanSocDem]

16. Here's an answer:

[jodymarie aimee]

17. DU was my saving grace

after we got back online. But, sadly, now it is just folks swatting at each other. Which means we have learned NOTHING from 1200 DEM losses. We will not win with this swatting and blaming each other. We have one enemy, HIM and his Rs. I used to believe this blog was the BEST of us. Not anymore.