Critical Condition (Thirty Four)

Lately, I have been experiencing difficulty writing. After selling our motorhome and purchasing our retirement home in Florida, I no longer wish to spend all my time writing about the satirical adventures of travel and expensive repairs. In fact, after moving into our house 10 months ago, we have had no repairs until just last week. The toilet in the Master Bath was acting up and it was cheaper to replace it than to repair it. End of story. Now, truth be known, if we were still living the FT dream of RV life, I could have written this entire blog about a leaky toilet issue that would have been both funny and expensive. But in less than 24 hours and $299 later, no story to tell about the brand new toilet in our MB! So, in other news…

I am not into the “Royal Family” news and gossip, but I did watch the interview that Oprah Winfrey did with Meghan Markle & Prince Harry yesterday while doing laundry. I caught it hours later on Demand TV and was very curious after seeing some really nasty comments on Facebook after it aired Sunday night. There was a time in the early 80’s during the Prince Charles & Diana fairytale wedding that I was totally into it! But in the later years after watching how the press turned Diana’s life as a Royal into a living nightmare (not to mention the fact, Charles was having an affair with Camilla and nearly drove Diana crazy!) I started despising what the Paparazzi did to her and basically responsible for her death in 1997. But who didn’t love Lady Di?!

Much of the chitter chatter on social media Monday morning consisted of people targeting criticisms toward these two people for telling their side of a sad story of how the British media, once again, destroyed a Royal Family fairytale. And add in some family dysfunction with the confetti of racism falling all over them for additional heartbreak, and you’ve got a story for a curious and condemning audience. But wait! There’s more! Did you hear the part where she talked about not wanting to live and having suicidal thoughts? That is nothing to make light of whether you care about the Royals or not, and quite shocking to me that people poked fun of it! More disgusting was that the folks on Fox 8 would have lynched Meghan if they could have!

I personally believe that Meghan was seriously targeted by the press in a way that would make almost any woman want to run away and hide. But I am baffled by the response and severe criticisms by the majority. Remember, Royals can’t just grab the car keys, jump into a car and go cry with a best friend or get drunk at the nearest bar! Who was there to witness what really happened to her? And furthermore, to laugh about it and suggest she knew what she was getting into. What commoner (as in, no royal bloodline- not how much money you have) in the US has married a Royal and personally knows exactly what to expect or what’s happened to Meghan and Harry? Who is so cruel that you would condemn someone who experienced suicidal thoughts regardless of why?

If you could care less about the Royals, then turn your attention to our own current realities of life. We are in a critical situation right here in our country, right now. People have simply lost touch with how to be understanding, empathetic, or kind to others. I have never seen anything quite like it in my almost 62 years of life. I see people post memes every single day stating things like; “Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes” or “You have no idea what people are dealing with in their personal lives so just be nice”, and “Sometimes the people with the biggest smiles are struggling the most.” Does anyone care enough to try practicing what they preach or post? One of my personal favorites is “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” I try to practice this whenever I find myself quick to judge, and lately I find myself thinking it a lot!

My take away from this interview is that our society is in critical condition.

I have experienced suicide in my extended family. Once long ago, and again in 2020. It is one of the most tragic life experiences the family members which are left behind will ever suffer and faced with questions that will never be answered. They will never understand the reason, yet have to push forward with their own life and their family’s lives. I think of them often when I hear people say “You need to get over it” or “life goes on.”

When did our society become so heartless? Do you find this disparaging or are you one of the heartless?

The reason why I’m having such a hard time writing these days is that, as I’ve said before, I am a peacekeeper. I don’t like confrontation because my feelings are easily hurt. I consider myself an Empath and I find it difficult to build up a protective wall around me. But I’m going to say what I need to say and hope that anyone that’s reading this might let the words sink in. There has been a lack of empathy and far too many hypocrisies and bullying going on for far too long, and if we keep turning our heads and ignoring it, your children and your grandchildren will become victims, or worse, the perpetrators.

STOP condemning people and save the judging for when you’re actually sitting on a jury. Don’t you realize that the person you are lashing out at today might be the person ready to end their life before dinner? The friend you think you know very well might be seeing a psychiatrist tomorrow and too ashamed to speak of it. The guy standing next to you might be suffering from PTSD and too scared to tell anyone because of the stigma associated with it and ready to kill someone. The neighbor you dislike could be a recovering addict and seemingly not very friendly. The person you invited to a small gathering that you believe is Paranoid Patty may be scared to death during this pandemic. The post you made this morning that you didn’t fact check first may prevent someone from getting vaccinated because it stated vaccines kill people!

I know people with PTSD. I know people struggling with addiction. I have friends seeking mental health help. I know people that were barely sick with Covid-19, and some who died or still struggling to live. What I don’t know, is why so many people are quick to judge others. Even worse, to make fun of them! We are all human and we all make mistakes. But try building someone up instead of tearing them down. Lend someone an ear or a virtual shoulder to cry on. Be the reason someone wants to live another day- not the reason today was their last day on earth!

We all know in our heart of hearts that it is ethically and morally wrong to lie, cheat and steal. So stop supporting those that do. We also know that the only way to change anything is to accept that something is wrong and needs to change. We all know that the current direction of society is in need of change, so accept the things you cannot change, and be the start of something that you do have the power to change. YOU. Start there. Wake up with a kinder heart and bring a little joy to someone’s day, if only a small compliment or a simple thank you.

I’ll start. THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG. I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY!