We’re hardwired to turn that blind eye
And pretend that the problem’s not ours.
Why bother our pretty minds with fear
And loathing in the East,
When it has no effect on our lives,
Until the moment it does.
I am one of those people that likes to bury my head in the sand when things are looking a bit rocky. I guess I choose to ignore something that could die down before it becomes a real thing.
I do this out of fear, rather than because I want to be ignorant. And to a degree it works.
However, there are times when that little problem does become a real thing and then I have to work twice as hard to come to terms with what is happening.
Over the past few days the situation in the Ukraine has really picked up pace. I have turned off the TV every time it came on the news, but it has now reached that ‘threshold’ point where I need to begin educating myself in what is going on.
I wonder if there are other people out there like me, and at one point do you feel that you need to know. Hiding your head in the sand can sometimes be a wonderful way to save your mental health, but we also owe it to our fellow humans to understand what is happening and, if possible, help.
Much Love
Rachel xx
Margot Kinberg
It really is a balance, isn’t it, Rachel? On the one hand, you want to know, and you should know, what’s going on. On the other, it’s scary and there’s a lot happening, and it’s very tempting to keep your mind settled and calm and just turn off the news. A lot of people felt that way when Covid made the scene. I think the balance is different for each of us. I try to pay attention to the clues my body gives me about what’s enough and what’s stressful, if that makes sense.
patientandkindlove
I agree. If I turn off the news and feel like I can’t breathe I know I’m watching too much. It’s such a tricky balance to strike.
Vic Crain
Hiding from problems is at best a very short term solution. They never go away. However, only some really matter. Most problems that arise in daily living aren’t worth the electrons spent writing about them. Significant problems, like cancer, only get worse the longer you wait. We need to be able to differentiate what matters from what doesn’t, blowing off the latter and focusing on the former.
Is our country doing enough to help Ukraine. Did Donald Trump’s decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine set the stage for the current mess?
While some didn’t believe the Ukraine invasion would happen, my belief is that Putin will go after the Baltic states next, and that will create a shooting war with NATO and the US.
Conversely, if Russia is isolated with China as it’s only source of credit and markets, China may come to own Russia. I really don’t think Putin has thought this through.
And China may use the West’s response to Ukraine as the trigger for liquidating Taiwan.
None of this is good and all of it has the ability to end life as we know it.
That matters.
patientandkindlove
It definitely does matter and the more I read and watch the more I fear. I found that it’s like COVID in that I need to balance what I need to know with what is going to make me worry too much. That is difficult!
clcouch123
I’m afraid I’m one who has been reading and listening to what’s going on. I can’t proselytize this process, because I can’t say this is the only reasonable way. I think the balance is better. I am relieved that our nations are clearly supporting Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis there is going to be horrible. But we need to keep all our lives together, as best we can.