Today was one of those days when a person feels assaulted by the universe.

[Skidmore]

Seriously. I think all of the serious world and national issues have achieved critical mass for me. And we got word that one of my brothers is having a second bout with basal cell carcinoma on his face. He's scared and I'm scared for him. Will be seeing him tomorrow. Combined with the worry for children on the border and in the ME, the BS in Congress, and the upcoming election, it is feeling overwhelming. I just want to scream. I want it all to just stop. All of it.

[Louisiana1976]

1. Hope things start going better soon and your brother's going to be OK.

[OKNancy]

2. my husband had a biopsy for basal cell yesterday

and is having Mohs surgery in Sept. It's 99% curable and is rarely malignant. We aren't worried at all.

We did a lot of reading, so that helped a lot.

[Hekate]

3. Skidmore. Now is the time to take a break from GD/DU. We don't want to lose you, got it?

Take a mental health week off or whatever you need. Or just PM your friends back and forth. But get the hell out of GD for awhile and just breathe, be with your brother, breathe some more, take a long look at some feature of natural beauty in your life, whether it be a home grown tomato plant or the mountains, and breathe again.

I mean it. Please.

[JI7]

4. i agree, i recommend reading a good book, going out for a walk

even watching some movies. just hanging out and talking with friends and family etc.

[FSogol]

10. Good advice. When I feel like that, I go for a walk by the local lake and watch the turtles,

frogs, and herons.

Best wishes for your brother, Skidmore.

[In_The_Wind]

6. Excellent advice.

[BobbyBoring]

8. I second that!

It's far too easy to become overwhelmed. I have to take time off from everything. No Tee Fee, Internet's magazines, etc.
I plan to immerse myself in my drum room for a month or so and just tune everything else off.
I just hope WW lll doesn't break out while I'm in there!

[chrisstopher]

5. yeah!

Waiting on a tow truck myself right now.

[jberryhill]

7. Take a break

There's a lot in the Universe to appreciate. Keep a balance.

[Mnemosyne]

9. ...

[jwirr]

11. It helps to prioritize. Some of these problems are things you can do a lot about in the immediate

future. There are many of us working with you on them and we will hold up our end for you so that you can concentrate on being with and helping your brother. When you feel that you can pick up your part again we will welcome you. In the meantime we will be thinking about your brother and your family.












DU=family.

[ljm2002]

12. You and me both...

...I can't go into details, but instead of the requisite 3 things going wrong in my life over the last 2 weeks, there have been 6 things. A double whammy, if you will.

Car broke == $1400
Animal injured == $2000
Refrigerator broke == $300
Family friend needed help == $650 (will be paid back so at least there's that)

and don't get me started on the personal issues. I can't share those but, ouch.

Anyway, there does seem to be something going around these days and it seems to be hitting us at all levels. It actually feels like it's all of a piece with what's happening at the border and in the Middle East. (not to mention Congress) That's just how it feels to me this last couple of weeks. And yes, I want to scream too.

Here's hoping some of the clouds dissipate before too long. Although again, be careful what you wish for: we have some nice looking thunder clouds outside right now, and any rain they want to drop will be more than welcome!

[AtomicKitten]

13. I'm overwhelmed by it all.

I am haunted by dead Palestine children. My heart is broken.

[Hekate]

14. What I said to Skidmore goes for you, Atomic Kitten, and the rest as well

Stop marinating in the toxicity, for Gods' sake. GD/DU IS NOT THE WHOLE WORLD.

You are a human being and you deserve to be happy. That doesn't mean LaLa Land where you don't know and don't care about others. It means you recognize that you will be no good to others if you are incapable of being good to yourself.

There is a meditation for you that I highly recommend. It starts with a prayer for you, and after it sinks in that you deserve this too you can move on to the the rest of the world in your meditation.
***************
May I be happy
May I be peaceful
May I be free
***************
So simple. It starts with you.

The whole thing is this, adding specific names as you will:
*****************
May all beings be peaceful
May all beings be happy
May all beings be safe
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature
May all beings be free from suffering
******************

[AtomicKitten]

15. *

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my jaw a few years ago.

I don't mean to minimize it, but it really was no big deal for me. Quick operation under local anesthetic and a few stitches. Good luck to your brother.