The news has been so . . what’s the word? Not really disturbing but I guess disheartening. Some days the news is on TV or the news comes on the radio and I find myself shaking my head and thinking “What did I just hear? Is this real?” I don’t dwell on it. We rarely have the TV on. We don’t have cable. We don’t have an antenna. Whatever we get comes through the internet and we don’t get much of anything . . and that makes me happy. My biggest concern with all the craziness . . and I do mean c-r-a-z-i-n-e-s-s . . is Addie and for future generations. Maybe my grandparents felt the same way . . I don’t know. Maybe in the end, things change and the world becomes a better place. I wouldn’t bet the farm but seriously, I’m just going to knit and love on my husband and my dogs, knit up my yarn (maybe order a bit more!) and discuss world events with the chickens . . and that’s about how much effort I’m going to put into worrying about what’s happening. Life is too short. There are things I can’t change, things I’ll never understand . . so why bother with them?
The other night, the TV was on for 5 minutes. I was halfway listening and then I thought . . why pollute my mind with this craziness when there’s not one thing I can do about it? There was a time when I figured writing to my congressman about issues was a good idea. Now, maybe it’s old age or cynicism . . who knows . . but I don’t think they give a flip what constituents think so again, I’m not wasting my time.
After the 5 minutes of TV news, I said . . I’ve had enough and I walked outside.
Driveway
I know that it’s just a dusty, weedy little driveway but when I walk out my back door and see this sight, it brings me more peace than most folks could ever imagine. When Vince and I met almost 25 years ago, I told him that some day I was going to live out in the woods on 40 acres. I didn’t know where or how (or with whom!) but my dream and the promise I made myself was just that – 40 acres in the woods with no neighbors. I didn’t say I was going to have a big, fancy house or a nice garage . . I have neither . . but I do have exactly what I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. There’s such a peace that comes from having a dream and doing what you can, and having a partner who understands the dream and understands what it means to you . . and achieving the dream.
Life hasn’t always been a bowl of cherries. We’ve had our share of disappointments but we’ve worked (one of us more than the other!) and never lost track of what we wanted.
When we talk about moving back to Missouri, in the end, we both say “This is the place we’ve always wanted. We’re not ready to leave here yet.”
I think the world would be a better place if more people and long, dusty driveways and front porches . . and took the time to sit out on the porch without TVs or computers.
For some, it may be a long, dusty, winding driveway where no one can see back to where you live. For some, it may be a peaceful setting overlooking a river or lake, for others, it may be a condo in a high rise overlooking a busy city. We all seem to find our own peace in different settings. May you all be aware of that peaceful setting for your own self. May we all have a place where we can go at the end of the day, where there’s shelter from the storms of life, where we can turn off the TV/bad news and pick up a knitting project or a sewing needle, or a good book, or a paint brush . . where we can create or simply lose ourselves in a book we love.
I’ve always said that if home is not the place where you go and find peace and joy and comfort, then what on earth do you do? I have known people who hated going home because of domestic issues, kids who hated going home because of parents tho didn’t treat them with love and kindness. Home should be a place of joy, a place where the people you care for most in the world are waiting for you or you’re waiting for them. I know it isn’t that way for many . . but I hope for everyone reading this . . if your home isn’t that way, somehow you and those with whom you live can start working to get it that way. Life is too short.
Please lets all find a way to stop complaining and start finding some joy.
karenfae says
that long dusty driveway looks perfect to me – nothing better than having the news shut off, music playing in the background and sitting on the porch listening to the birds, reading or hand stitching (or knitting in your case!)
Melody Wathor says
Amen.
Donna inKS says
Hear ye! Hear ye!
wanda j says
So funny about you and your 40 acres My grandparent had forty acres they lived on out in the country. I loved being there with them( like you stayed with them all the time and full time when 18-19). I loved the way that is was quiet and everybody did their own thing. I miss that so much. My DH is a city boy so is my DD ( darling daughter)but me, My dgd( darling granddaughter) and SIL( son-in-law)( all scrapbook short cuts from way back in the late 90’s) could all be happy as could be in the big old country. Thanks for the memories once again.
Karin Hebbert says
Well said! Not a day goes by that I am not thankful that God saw fit to plant me at the end of a dirt road with my husband. I too, hope that everyone can find the place that brings them peace and joy because this world has gone absolutely mad.
dezertsuz says
I’m in 100% agreement. I live without any regular TV, just Roku, and I don’t one minute of the day miss the constant barrage of negativity. I still find out way more than I want to!
Sara F says
Well said.
I’ve always been a bit of a news junkie – newspapers and TV or radio, but it’s so disturbing lately that it stresses me out. And I’m also disturbed by my seemingly intelligent friends who believe everything they see on Facebook. So my peaceful place lately has been diving into some excellent books or sewing.
Dorothy Matheson says
I too love living out on 30 acres of land. Now that I am older and DH is a lot older we have health issues and goodness it is far to the care we need. Not as far as you have thankfully. There is so much of the gardening we cannot do anymore. And just so much of it to do. With only retirement income it is very hard to hire someone to do it. (if you can even find someone).
So enjoy what you have but be aware it becomes harder over time.
Linda in TX says
Great post Judy. We get up every single morning and go sit on the back porch for about an hour drinking coffee and talking about a lot of stuff, watching the birds and squirrels, and enjoying the peace and quiet and privacy. We never talk about news or anything to do with The World Out There. My husband stopped watching any news at all when Obama got elected and I very quickly began to watch only local news and weather. I had great hope in 2016 but gave it all up quickly as I saw very little maturity or sanity out there. I have my quilting friends and my knitting group and my yarn/fabric and we live a very quiet and peaceful life. Yep – we’re getting older and older and less and less patient but realize we no longer have any say in anything that’s going on out there so we do not engage. I, like you, am just enjoying what we have and completely blowing off the rest. I feel terribly lucky to live in Texas.
Linda in NE says
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the news media would just refuse to publicize all the negativity and riots and protesting, people doing horrendous things to each other and weirdness in general? We know it’s all out there, but do we really need to hear about it over and over? It all just makes people madder. Facebook doesn’t help any either…all those “suggested posts” that are such baloney. I’m only on FB to keep up with extended family and yet I get sucked in sometimes because some of those posts push my buttons and I know they do the same to others.
I’ll also agree with you that contacting the politicians is a waste of time. They couldn’t care less what the people who elected them want. They are only interested in sticking to the party line and lining their own pockets.
Jill of Apple Avenue Quilts says
Lovely post. Thank you!
Mary Jo says
Love your post!
Pinot and Piecing says
Well said. I think I’ll read it a few more times before I walk out the door today to attend a sewing group whose members like to spout political comments. I have to create those 40 acres in my own mind.
Joyce Barham says
Good post! We had lived in Kansas City for about 30 years. Traffic was horrific! and finally we said enough! Both of our parents had died and our daughter had gone off to college. That’s when we said there is no longer any reason for us to be so miserable. We sold our houses and off we went to find someplace to live with some peace and quiet. We landed in Arkansas, found a house with 22 acres and started to really live like we wanted to. That was in 2000 and I was 50 years old. No very close neighbors here and a long gravel driveway where grass grows in the middle. We love it here and recently an old codger came by and said he wants to buy our house. No mention of the land we own. Total of 32 acres, now. Steve said No, we are staying here and the house is not for sale! I agree!! Our daughter and grandchildren live in Springfield, MO which is 50 miles from here, about an hours drive. She said our place is too rugged for her taste…too many wild animals and SNAKES! But to each their own. I can’t, personally, stand all the traffic Springfield since it has grown so BIG! I am only on facebook to keep in touch with my out-of-town relatives! Such peace and joy there is here and I am so sick of the news being so negative! I’m in my happy place. Thank you for your excellent post!
Jackie says
Perfectly said and ahem sister!
stitchingellen says
I always enjoy your posts but this was an especially good one – exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you!