The xXx Gloom & Doom Report

[k0xxx]

...How do we de stress as we deal with this?

To quote a Nestle executive, "Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the chocolate."

 

[framing fowl]

I just went tohttp://www.freedomworks.org/ to see what it was. It looks like there is a list of issues that you can call or write your senators and congressmen about and there is a synopsis of each item. There is also a connector to help you connect with like minded people in your area.

I think you all have hit the nail on the head. It is time to shake off the gloom and doom and DO SOMETHING! It looks like this may be a good website to get you pointed in the right direction.

Some of the comments from THEFAN earlier in the thread about young people not being involved really struck me. I'm part of that group. I'm not currently involved with a church or any other groups or organizations. I've told myself that I'm too busy... too busy gardening, too busy preserving, too busy working, too busy paying off debt, too busy cooking, too busy cleaning. There is a time and a place for all of those activities but they are by and large very centered on myself and my family. We help other people out financially but not really giving of our time and ourselves right now.

The time is coming where the freedoms I enjoy right now may be stripped away to a point where I am being told by someone else how and when I can garden, that I can't preserve because my food is being provided to me, I actually am too busy working, and the wealth is being redistributed. Looking at my own life, I don't like what I see. It is very self-serving and isolationist. The only other option is to make time for other people in my life and to invest time in preserving the freedoms we still have and working to regain some of the freedoms that have already been lost.

How am I going to do that? I am going to talk to DH tonight and figure out one way that we can involve ourselves in our immediate community as a couple. It is time for us to start governing ourselves and being involved in and helping shape the community in which we live. I'm tired of listening to the news, I'm tired of hearing people complain, I'm tired of being tired, and I'm tired of the lie that the problem is too big to solve. It is now time to lay aside my apathy and thinking that someone else will do what is required, that someone else will fix things, that someone else will make the call. Too long have I indulged my self-importance on thinking that my time here is for me and my pleasure and being focused on my problems. Time is short and I need to rearrange my priorities.

 

[Britesea]

Church would be a good start. Try to find one with a good local parish- that way, you will be able to connect with your neighbors. I personally believe it doesn't really matter WHICH church you go to- they all worship the same god; as long as you like the people you are worshiping with.

 

[framing fowl]

Britesea, that would be my wish. However, my DH sees otherwise. It is not faith he objects to but the politics and hypocrisy that he doesn't seem able to see beyond. That struggle has also been a stumbling block for me in joining groups and I have allowed myself to take the easy way out. I hope and pray for a softening of his heart but that hasn't happened as of yet. So perhaps involving ourselves in the community perhaps through a group we find on freedomworks or our neighborhood council or someother group within the city would be a step in the right direction for us right now.

I would take any and all thoughts, prayers and good wishes regarding this situation as it has been one of the more difficult points in our relationship.

 

[k0xxx]

Being involved in our communities is very important. FF is right, it is easy to get caught up in our daily routines and become isolationist. Building strong communities and building community ties is what needs to be done, especially if we do go through some hard times. Like Britesea said, a church is a great place to start, but any community organization that you can be a part of or volunteer is great. I volunteer through Amateur Radio and I participate in a local Tea Party type group, but volunteering at the local animal shelter is just as important. As long as it feels right, then jump in. Being involved strengthens the community, and it helps us personally in many ways.

 

[Wannabefree]

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about I have got out of my rut, and began helping others for at least 10 hours a week, that's a bad week It has made a HUGE difference in my outlook on things, and others outlook. I am affilliated with a church and a church oriented organization, but ALL people are receptive to receiving the blessings we offer. BUT that's not all.... I have been able to not only witness to them about my faith, but also about my lifestyle and what we do to preserve what we have. I do feel like we have a much stronger community now than we did even a year ago. The concept of being a neighbor and loving each other and helping take care of each other is not exclusive to Christianity and not exclusive to what we do in our service to others. It's great to nourish the body with food, but to nourish the minds of the people with knowledge and caring...it's just beautimous! It has given me more blessings than I have passed out amongst those in need by a long shot. It is SOOOOO worth doing, even for an hour a week. You'll carry that single hour with you for the rest of the week I LOVE what I do to help. The funny thing about it is...MOST of the folks I have distributed to, have then turned around and in whatever way they are capable, have paid it forward. I can't tell ya how many times i have dropped off a box of food to someone and they gave ME a box to add to the distribution because they had an apple tree that produced more than they could consume, or had a bumper crop of pumpkins or squash. It. is. AMAZING!

FF just because your DH doesn't want to be a part of the church type activities doesn't necessarily mean you can't start there. I did, and left the hubster at home...hehe...now...two years later...he's a Sunday School teacher

 

[framing fowl]

FF just because your DH doesn't want to be a part of the church type activities doesn't necessarily mean you can't start there. I did, and left the hubster at home...hehe...now...two years later...he's a Sunday School teacher

Unfortunately, it does mean that in our particular situation for right now. I'm praying that this will not always be the case.

 

[Wannabefree]

FF just because your DH doesn't want to be a part of the church type activities doesn't necessarily mean you can't start there. I did, and left the hubster at home...hehe...now...two years later...he's a Sunday School teacher

Unfortunately, it does mean that in our particular situation for right now. I'm praying that this will not always be the case.

Well I'll be praying for an opportunity for you too then Do you have friends who are actively involved? Maybe you could join them once in a while? Like i said it doesn't have to be church or church affilliated service. ANY service is better than not serving.

 

[tamlynn]

Do all you CAN do, but realize you can't do EVERYTHING. Worrying about something you can't do anything about is really wasting your time & health.

Ditto.

 

[Britesea]

helping people in your community NOW is important also because it plants a seed; it gets THEM thinking about paying it forward, as WBF said. Also, if you know the people in your community and they know you, everyone is more likely to come together in times of crisis. It doesn't even have to be an organized thing-- if you see your neighbor washing windows, go over and offer to help!