It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Rummer

Good evening! It was a beautiful day outside today and some time in the sunshine really helped to lift my spirits, thats and lots of hugs from my kitten. I hope you all found some peace today.

bails

What a lovely lot of compassionate and caring posts! :T I hope they helped and am sending my own hugs to everyone who is finding life tough right now - I hope a glimmer of light shines through for you all soon x

Ceridwen, I agree, it's so important to live the life YOU love, not whatever anyone else thinks is the 'right' way. My life has changed dramatically from 21st century ideals and I couldn't be happier about that

Barneysmom

ceridwen wrote: »

...and I'm just thinking at the moment....and these ARE only my own personal thoughts I hasten to add:

That throughout most of human history (thinking only of Britain here) that the pace of life has been much slower/quieter/less living on "adrenaline" and I personally (knowing that, given half a chance, I can be "hyper"/anxious/depressed for England) am resolving to live as much in accordance with "older ways" as I can manage. Throughout most of human history to date:
- we have worked far shorter hours than we do now (the current long workweek only seems to have come in at the time of the Industrial Revolution and I was interested to read that some hundreds of years ago in this country people worked many hours less per week on average than we regard as normal in the early 21st century). So - I am not going to feel guilty about working less than I did and remember how hardpressed people were at the time of the Industrial Revolution - I am going to look further back to the times before that.

- as far as possible I will avoid crowds - because we have not been used to living in overcrowded societies throughout most of human existence (it seems that Britain only became overpopulated in the 19th Century) and wasnt something we had to cope with before then

- as far as possible I will remember that previous Societies have been much quieter than this one and try to recreate that as far as possible

- I have swopped from listening to pop music stations to listening to classical music ones and find I feel much calmer as a result and I like the sense of being "linked in" to past centuries that comes from listening to music of previous eras

Basically - I personally have come to the conclusion that I refuse to "buy into" the whole hassled/hurried/noisy 21st Century "mindset". I'm on strike in effect and will turn to "older ways" as much as I can. With that - whatever strikes me in the way of money problems/having to deal with living in a noisy and overcrowded society where most of us arent aware just how affected we are by the knowledge that some Idiot could "push a button" and our whole lives could be affected instantly/etc has a lot less impact on my "peace of mind" than it otherwise would. So - thats the way I am personally finding to go for - might not suit everyone - but it suits me. But - if anyone wants to join me in my particular way of "dont let the b*****s get you down" - then welcome.:D

I try ad do this too, I thought I was the only one who didn't enjoy this fast-mode life.
I don't go to pubs or clubs, preferring just quiet walks round country parks.
And music is as mellow as possible too.
Even changing my food habits, no frozen meals, nothing processed, though I can't give up my Colliers Welsh cheddar :cool:
I'm looking forward to the day we have planned in ten year's time to sell th house and buy a narrowboat and just get away from as much as possible.
In the meantime I'm learning the old ways, from bread and sausage making to growing small amounts of food, and making a ragrug which I think will take a few years.....

BigMummaF

You've got me thinking again Ceri :think:..please folks? When this gets a bit :huh: remember it wasn't me who started it :rotfl:
I've always followed my own path from when I was a tiddly & stubbornly refused to attend the dollys tea party at school, because the boys train set looked a lot more fun My sister does the 'pretty little girl' thing well enough to cover my share too, so I just follow my nose & see whatever comes up in front of it We have a tv but I choose what I like to watch & not what the schedulers think I should be watching. Soaps & reality shows are lost on me I'm afraid, & in their place I lurve a good who-dun-it or science-based docu.
I'm probably one of a limited number of females who actually enjoys the banter between the Top Gear boys & could no doubt, build a designer motorbike in my sleep...you can keep your Footballers Bad Diaries--give me petrol-heads anytime :cool2: & the same goes for my taste in music.
I like what I like & listen to all sorts of things dependent on my mood at the time, which is how I think it should be. There are certain artists I would recognise in an instant because a good percentage of their material appeals to me, but if there's a track I don't like, then that's my choice too.
Clothing, hairstyles & interior design are also lost on me, although I like to see the DIY shows SIZE=1]emphasis on D-I-Y[/SIZE; as long as it's clean, practical & serves its purpose, that'll do for me Of course I'd like a 30 room mansion with koi carp in the loo & gold threads in the dish cloth, but I'm also comfortable in plodding along with what I've got now.
Having said all that, I wish outside forces would just give us a break now & then so we had the time &--more importantly--the inclination to sit back & smell the roses

Rummer

I have to admit that I do get caught up in all the madness and get myself very strung out and then I realise that it is not worth it. The important part for me is still being able to take a step back and realise there are other things that matter a lot more. As long as my friends and family are happy and healthy and we can be together that is all that matters.

remmie

Barneysmom wrote: »

I try ad do this too, I thought I was the only one who didn't enjoy this fast-mode life.
I don't go to pubs or clubs, preferring just quiet walks round country parks.
And music is as mellow as possible too.
Even changing my food habits, no frozen meals, nothing processed, though I can't give up my Colliers Welsh cheddar :cool:
I'm looking forward to the day we have planned in ten year's time to sell th house and buy a narrowboat and just get away from as much as possible.
In the meantime I'm learning the old ways, from bread and sausage making to growing small amounts of food, and making a ragrug which I think will take a few years.....[/QUOTE

Barneysmom, we did this six years ago, we sold the house and bought a narrowboat, can throughly recommend it, just us two and the three dogs living life at a much slower pace.

The only problem is when I see the grandchildren, its like they talk a different language, theirs and our childrens life seem so hectic.

Barneysmom

Thanks Remmie xx
I'm still awaiting grandchildren......my DD is 27 and my son is 29 they are both in long term relationships but no plans to have children yet. One day I hope.

Yes, a narrowboat seems to be about the only escape route left? Not many cheap buildings in remote places anymore..

HariboJunkie

BigMummaF wrote: »

I'm probably one of a limited number of females who actually enjoys the banter between the Top Gear boys

It's my favourite programme.

Like alot of people, our financial situation will always be precarious as my OH is self employed and I work for him. We are ever reliant on new business and although it hasn't slumped in the recession, payment has. It now takes an average of 56 days to get people to pay us which fairly mucks up the cash flow. :rolleyes:
Where I live it is impossible to meet a crowd of people (except the tourists, who I avoid)and I live on a quiet street and work in a quiet office. I am more likely to encounter a crowd of cows or deer... My life is busy but not in a stressed out way.

I'm afraid that I do spend money on my home but not a lot, getting most stuff from freecycle or being crafty. (crafty in the sense of making things, not being sneaky ) I am pretty aquisitional though and have little patience for saving but I am getting better and the house is nearly finished anyway. If we ran up against really hard times as long as we can keep the bills paid, I would be pretty happy with my lot as I have all I REALLY need.

I hope that EVERYONE with trouble in their life finds peace and security soon.

Haribo x

maryb

one of the joys of getting older is that you feel free to be much bolshier than you would have dared when you were young and wanted everyone to like you

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

Pitlanepiglet

maryb wrote: »

one of the joys of getting older is that you feel free to be much bolshier than you would have dared when you were young and wanted everyone to like you

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

Ahh my favourite poem!

I agree with this though - the woman in charge of the team that I am in is doing her level best to bully me out of the team. I didn't allow people to bully me when I was 12 years old and I'm certainly not going to start now....it has made me realise how difficult things can be, I've never experienced anything like it before now and it's really quite hard to deal with when you really need a job.