Easy...
Liberal usage of Single Malt Scotch.
Posted on 02/24/2012 9:52:17 AM PST by hoagy62
As a citizen of this country, I feel it is my duty to keep informed and not be ignorant of what's going on around me. Anyone who calls themselves a conservative (I believe) should stay informed as to what's going on around them. 'Situational awareness' is important.
With that being said...how in the hell do you keep up with the news and not get totally and completely depressed? I see the insane policies of the current administration, the overwhelming ignorance of the electorate who put them there, and the generally deteriorating state of the world. Closer to home, I see stories about kids shooting kids, cops getting blown away, people who advocate immoral behavior trying to legitimze their lives through legislation, and a host of other things that completely drains me of hope for the future.
As fellow FReepers, how do you cope? How do you stay informed yet avoid the pitfalls of depression?
What makes you think we do (not get depressed)?
Faith in God. Prayer. And turning off the TV.
DO NOT use TV as a primary source for news or information at any level. Ever.
/johnny
Coming to places like FR, where I can see that many others agree with me.
Going to church, where people also agree.
Helps to know you’re not alone.
To quote James Gregory (comedian) on flying — “gotta catch up on my drinkin’ and my prayin.’
I dumped TV in 1997. That helped a lot. But the most important thing is faith in Jesus and the sacrifice he made for you. And this life is a mist. Remember that.
And lots of prayer! It caused me to leave my home of 45 years, Seattle, and buy and move to a small farm in central Kentucky. It has changed our lives, all for the better. At least here we feel we have a fighting chance against what is to come. And we did it in the vein of Revelation 18:4
With that being said...how in the hell do you keep up with the news and not get totally and completely depressed?
*******************
I get terribly depressed and stressed. I am very much looking forward to springtime, gardening and other outdoor activities will be a welcomed diversion. I always feel better with lots of sunshine and fresh air.
I am scared to death of Obama getting another four. I am to the point that I am actually thinking of ditching my principles and vote Romney, if he is the nominee. I have sworn up and down I won’t—I am re-thinking that stance and it makes me ill.
Oh...TUMS helps, too.
Stay busy and pray.
Don’t read polls, don’t watch TV propaganda disguised as news and stay away from FR threads documenting all of the biased liberal garbage until the post count is above 25 responses. (The FReeper comments are my anti-depressants).
Spend many/most Friday nights in your conservative neighbor’s garage with a 12-pack, some tunes, and a big old propane heater. Where issues with kids/politics/religion/sports are all ok to get off of your chest.
Critical thinking. Prayer. Forget the network and even local news. You can watch, but always remember to think about their angle. Never watch network news. Propaganda always, so why bother? Remember we have a chance to get Obama out of office.
The first thing is to realize tunnel vision for what it is. When you focus on one thing, everything is seen through the prism of that one thing.
When you focus exclusively on politics, then politics is the only thing you see. You start seeing music, movies, TV shows, sermons, casual conversation, and even encounters with strangers as political.
When that happens, you lose perspective. You start seeing yourself as one of the few informed and thus you build up a false sense of your own importance and your own relevance.
Then the serious depression starts. You start feeling helpless. You have the information, you have your informed opinions, and yet no one else seems to be paying attention. You start wondering if anybody around you seems to see or realize what is happening.
Then it all comes clear. There are those manipulating the uninformed. It’s part of a plan. You somehow slipped through their web, but those around you obviously are caught in it. The truth that you have found is being actively worked against. And anyone who denies it must either be ignorant or part of the attempts to keep it under wraps.
Seriously, if you get to the point where you are depressed, you will quickly get to the point where you become paranoid. Find some music or a book that you have always enjoyed and immerse yourself in it. Don’t worry about the artists politics, don’t worry that the world will fall apart if you aren’t watching. Just relax and step back to see things in perspective again.
Easy...
Liberal usage of Single Malt Scotch.
Great post, Anitius Severinus Boethius... thank you.
Well, you’ve got bad news and you’ve got depression. Bad news causes depression. You can’t do anything about the bad news which is sort of like reality. That’s the way it is. You can do something about the depression.
If you have chosen a primary candidate, feel free to tune out for a week or so. See how you feel without the world on your shoulders for a bit. It’s okay to take a break. :)
Well, you’ve got bad news and you’ve got depression. Bad news causes depression. You can’t do anything about the bad news which is sort of like reality. That’s the way it is. You can do something about the depression.
My local congregation (church of Christ) is very Conservative both scripturally and politically. It's uplifting to worship and fellowship with those of like mind. Since I attend both the Sunday and Wednesday services, it energizes me as the week begins and in the middle of a week.
We also spend time after services chatting about any number of topics. It's almost like a face-to-face forum of FReepers since Obama is despised. After his recent State of the Union address, NOT ONE member of my congregation had anything whatsoever positive to say about it.
My advice is to find a church that's apologetically 100% Christian and 100% Conservative in your area. Not only will you find the Word of God a source of strength but you'll benefit in the association of those with like mind. There's also encouragement in the singing of the great traditional hymns such as "O Lord, Our Lord, How Excellent Thy Name", a personal favorite of mine.
And I'll hasten to add that the November 2012 elections will be here before you know it. A clean sweep by Tea Party Patriots is a near certainty. That is a tremendous source of joy since the Obama regime will soon be a thing of the past.
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