Finding Peace and Balance in a Turbulent and Unstable World

So, today there was a Government Report here in the USA suggesting that the inflation rate has peaked and is slowly coming down again.

What that really means, in the greater context of existence, I am not entirely sure of.

What I do know is that "things" are difficult for an awful lot of people, ourselves included. I don't much watch — or pay attention to — "government reports" as much as I pay attention to what the world is doing at street level where we are living.

And things at street level are not well, for a large number of people.

I watch — and I mean really WATCH — what people are doing at the supermarket; I listen to what people are worried about, via the chatter on some of our local community message boards.

I listen to people being terrified that their landlord will suddenly want to sell the house or apartment in which they are living, meaning they'll have to move... and probably face a massive rent increase (and possible homelessness) as a result.

I watch those people at the supermarket, swarming like vultures over the "reduced for quick sale" items at the meat counter, and the "50% off" bread that goes past its due date, today. I watch how this week's "specials" invariably sells out almost immediately because nearly everyone is a "price shopper," these days.

Hell, I'm there, swarming with them, most of the time!

What does a pervasive recession look like, at street level? Mostly, it seems to look like a reduction in the number of choices we have.

Driving to town today, I noticed how the number of tents in the woods on the outskirts of town slowly keeps growing.

"Beggars can't be choosers," as the old truism goes.

I'd love to put out few "Oh, I'm not too worried" platitudes, but those would be a lie.

That said, I still strive to seek out some measure of peace and balance in this turbulent and seemingly decaying world.

It's a little cold around the edges in our house because we are trying to save on our winter energy bills by lowering the thermostat and wearing sweaters, instead of heating the house as much as we normally do.

Gratitude helps. There are things to be grateful for... whether it's simply for the fact that we at least do have a roof over our heads, or the fact that we have a pretty substantial stock of rice and dried beans "in stock," in case things completely go to hell.

I am definitely also grateful for Hive, and for having this blog to share my thoughts and observations!

That said, my belief in the whole cryptocurrency thing is somewhat waning... I feel increasingly unsure what sort of future crypto will have as long as there seems to be five pieces of negative news for every piece of positive crypto news, these days.

Maybe what's really making me sad is that the initial idealism that once drove crypto has largely been replaced by conventional Wall Street Greed and sketchy dealings.

Not sure how that's going to "make the world a better place."

I find myself being grateful for every tiny eBay sale... even if it's just a few dollars... at least I sold something, right?

I increasingly think about Ram Dass' words "be here now," and use them to find a measure of peace in the here and now... because worrying about "what MIGHT be" seems like a useless exercise in futility.

The nearest "future" I need to deal with is a $7K property tax bill that comes due in March.

Be here now!

Thanks for reading, and have a great remainder of your week!

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Created at 20221213 23:19 PDT
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