Notes from the River

I have been lax this week with posting as I’ve been busy. But, I’ve also been wrestling with nihilism as a direct result of the state of the world. And it’s really fucking hard to be optimistic when everything is crumbling around you.

We’re actively watching rising unemployment, the normalization of fascism, and the erosion of the American middle class, in real time. Not to mention that last night, when I went to watch the classic Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan rom-com You’ve Got Mail, it wasn’t available to stream on any of the services I pay for. The world is turning to shit!

I’m naturally an optimist. But, recently I’ve realized that I make a conscious decision to be optimistic every day – and I don’t always make that decision. At the risk of sounding like some LA-based unaccredited ‘therapist’ (and reiki healing workshop leader), I think choosing optimism over nihilism is an act of resistance against the powers that be. Optimism isn’t the only thing that makes progress happen, but it is a lot harder to make progress happen when you don’t believe in good things happening. So I pledge to choose optimism as much as I can.

I’m sorry that I was a little bit vulnerable and boring today. I promise I’ll be funny again next post.

“Wake up kids, we’ve got the dreamer’s disease” – The New Radicals