Right now I'm reading

Bram · Post by **Bram** » Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:07 pm

Let’s say me and someone are hanging out and they say “Look at those [insert discriminatory term].”

I know from experience that if I don’t say anything, that poison seeps into my head. And that poison makes my life worse. Instead of being generally friendly towards that group (which is how I prefer to be to everyone) and going about my life, I put some of my energy into being hatefully focused on them.

I don’t care to run around telling random strangers how to live. But I do want to enjoy life as fully as I can. Looking at people as less than me lowers my quality of life. Not saying something when people say those things in front of me lowers my quality of life.

As a separate issue, I don’t have to be friends with anyone that acts or talks that way either.

I’m not sure what your point is about bringing Barack Obama. Anyone — politician, black, white, gay, straight, liberal, conservative, male, female, rich, poor — can be an asshole or a good person.

I only need to call out bigotry when it’s right in front of me to feel good. I only need to be silent, or agree, to feel bad.

motherjuggs&speed · Post by **motherjuggs&speed** » Fri Sep 15, 2023 1:17 am

My point was that people are selective about who they criticize. If you were Republican-leaning I'd have said Trump or Bush. Same kind of evil perpetuated by them, same kind of selective blindness on the part of those who agree with them, or their speeches anyway. Libs are always calling out someone or other but I never see any of them criticize people who have done a lot more harm than some random person, youtuber, celeb, etc..

motherjuggs&speed · Post by **motherjuggs&speed** » Fri Sep 15, 2023 1:28 am

Sailing Alone Around the World, by Joshua Slocum. I'm amazed that I never read this before, been on the list since forever. It's engaging, funny, and insightful. Slocum recounts his good times with joy and his mishaps with wit and mostly good humor. Since it was written around 1898 you can probably grab it from oceanofpdf without issues.

Bram · Post by **Bram** » Fri Sep 15, 2023 3:50 am

motherjuggs&speed wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 1:17 am My point was that people are selective about who they criticize. If you were Republican-leaning I'd have said Trump or Bush. Same kind of evil perpetuated by them, same kind of selective blindness on the part of those who agree with them, or their speeches anyway. Libs are always calling out someone or other but I never see any of them criticize people who have done a lot more harm than some random person, youtuber, celeb, etc..

Unless we have a big reach, and I sure don’t, the only thing that matters is the few people we come across each day or week. Just trying to like who I am as a person, make my deceased parents proud, that kind of thing.

motherjuggs&speed · Post by **motherjuggs&speed** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:09 am

Touched with Fire, by Kay Redfield Jamison. What happens when a manic-depressive, who is a professor of psychiatry and also a gifted writer, writes about manic depressive illness and the artistic temperament? An amazing journey through the lives and minds of brilliant and troubled artists is the result. The only reason I keep putting this book down instead of reading it nonstop is because my mind is ablaze with the insights and revelations contained herein and I have to think about them for a while.. There are a few books I really wish I had read earlier in my life and this is one of them. If you have any interest in people who are creative, a little touched, or both, this book is for you. If you know someone like this or are one yourself it's essential reading. Highest recommendation.

motherjuggs&speed · Post by **motherjuggs&speed** » Wed Nov 15, 2023 11:44 pm

A Life in Hand, by Hannah Hinchman. The subtitle is Creating the Illustrated Journal and that's what this book is about. Part instruction manual, part sketchbook, part journal, the author takes the reader along while she describes and demonstrates her process for making amazing art out of everyday things. Hinchman makes little moments of magic happen, especially with her captions of her drawings, some of which are incorporated into the drawings. I loved this book and if you like this kind of thing then you will too.

Bram · Post by **Bram** » Mon Nov 20, 2023 4:44 pm

Thanks for the A Life in Hand suggestion! I’ve been reading some books on drawing and sketching and appreciate the heartfelt recommendation.

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Finally finished Lost Connections by Johann Hari. The thesis of the book is that depression and anxiety aren’t defects of our brains to be treated solely by drugs, but a signal that we need deeper, healthier connections — to people that we care about (and who care about us); to meaningful values; to nature; to work we care about.

The book was full of a dizzying amount of suggestions and ideas and I found myself constantly taking notes and reflecting.

My main change has been to prioritize people that care about me (and vice versa). And to de-prioritize people that have show themselves to not care. I’m not mean, haven’t had any “I can’t be your friend” conversations, I’m just polite and tell them I’m busy. Shifting this alone has had a massive impact.

If you want to make changes in your depression and anxiety, or have a better understanding of those that are suffering, this book will give you plenty of food for thought.