tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post3439142942686987039..comments2024-03-28T22:30:17.628+13:00Comments on How to be Chic: A Week of Beauty, Day 4: SerenityFiona Ferrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01493105915055099408noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-60056236597390169302015-09-13T04:24:12.129+12:002015-09-13T04:24:12.129+12:00I enjoy your blog very much. I enjoy your blog very much. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-82623614284444484152015-09-12T17:16:31.994+12:002015-09-12T17:16:31.994+12:00Janet, I'd really love to know how you told pe...Janet, I'd really love to know how you told people you don't want to hear about their constipation (!!!) and complaints. I'd feel so rude, how do you do it politely?<br /><br />KBG thank you very much for the podcast recommendation, it will be accompanying me on a walk in the very near future.Fiona Ferrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01493105915055099408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-90215055574974401442015-09-12T05:03:37.855+12:002015-09-12T05:03:37.855+12:00Hi Fiona, This is precisely why I love to read Hen...Hi Fiona, This is precisely why I love to read Hen-lit books (the older version of Chick-lit aimed at 40+ women like us). For escapism, I think it's a simple, innocent, and better-than-watching-tv activity. <br /><br />Just last night I meditated before bed. I was feeling overwhelmed, just like you say, with watching the news. I'm one of those who try to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, and what good does that do? Not much, unless I put something positive into action, right? <br /><br />I do try to watch the news though, because I want to know what is happening locally at least. I have a teen in high school here in the U.S. and I want to make sure she is safe. Unfortunately, I think knowing what is going on daily, locally, for parents is necessary. There is just too much violence going on in this country now in schools, movie theaters, and formally safe public places. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-33198289741387644652015-09-11T06:51:11.813+12:002015-09-11T06:51:11.813+12:00I stopped reading or watching or listening to most...I stopped reading or watching or listening to most news a few years ago & have never regretted it. I find that I still learn about anything truly important through one source or another. I don't indulge in social media of any sort and actively avoid anything to do with celebrities, Hollywood or anything with even a whiff of the usually mean-spirited gossip that masquerades as "news". A long time ago I saw a tee-shirt with the phrase "eschew gossip" on the front. The phrase has stuck to me like glue for some reason and I have made it abundantly clear to anyone who knows me that I won't tolerate gossip or the latest "bad news drama" or "ain't it awful" tidbits.<br /><br />In the past year I've told my elderly neighbour that I do not want to hear about her unhelpful family, her operations, constipation or bowel movements. I told a friend that I could no longer listen to her endless complaints about her job, husband, marriage & life unless she was willing to do something to change them. She stopped calling. I don't miss her. I read over 200 books/year & they *all* have happy endings. I love upbeat movies (& SF epics!) I hang out in blogs like this one & others that focus on the good things in life. I foster cats, walk SPCA dogs, dance to rock and roll & laugh with friends until my sides ache. Janetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-72036545039740049302015-09-11T04:33:17.953+12:002015-09-11T04:33:17.953+12:00Fiona, I know you're a podcast listener so let...Fiona, I know you're a podcast listener so let me recommend this one from Freakonomics: Why Do We Really Follow the News http://freakonomics.com/2015/08/05/why-do-we-really-follow-the-news-a-new-freakonomics-radio-episode/comment-page-3/<br /><br />I enjoyed it so much and I thought it was a very insightful discussion of the validation some people get from being very well informed. <br /><br />For me personally, I find I want to know what's happening at a macro level. I feel very disconnected from the world and like I'm living in a very insular little bubble if I don't skim the headlines. But that's where I stop. In depth analysis and long, windy arguments about specific topics exhaust me and leave me more depressed than enlightened. I'd rather do the things you suggest and live an informed, but less stressed out, life.KBGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-34058411492994379172015-09-11T01:38:51.072+12:002015-09-11T01:38:51.072+12:00Finding your own sweet spot for serenity in our wo...<br />Finding your own sweet spot for serenity in our world of constant, all-the-time everything can be a challenge. Reading a newspaper doesn't stress me out because I can easily see and skip the items that are annoying or not relevant for me. I grew up in a family where people did do things to help shape public policy and so I don't view it all as futile to keep up with things I think are important.<br /><br />I gave up watching TV, though, more than 25 years ago because during a period when I was bedridden and watched TV a lot since I had no energy to read, I came to dislike the feeling of being manipulated by advertising, drama, canned laughter and so on. I could even feel my heart rate go up, it was so bad. I've never missed it since. Recently, when at a friend's house watching TV, the old feeling of annoyance and anxiety came back, so I know I've made a good choice. I stick to choosing the odd movie that looks really appealing instead.<br /><br />AlisonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-64768753607109645192015-09-11T00:00:37.465+12:002015-09-11T00:00:37.465+12:00Hi Fiona,
I really struggle with this because I f...Hi Fiona,<br /><br />I really struggle with this because I feel like I'm constantly reading/watching things that upset me. I do need to consciously make a decision to only take in positive things as much as humanly possible. My husband always says, "Garbage in, garbage out", and it's true because putting that negative stuff in my brain affects everything else I do.<br /><br />Thanks for this great reminder! :) Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341358996932115047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-14139560938577448372015-09-10T23:00:11.994+12:002015-09-10T23:00:11.994+12:00I think this is so important -- we need to take ad...I think this is so important -- we need to take advantage of the beauty in the world! For news I like The Daily Skimm here in the U.S. It gives highlights of the day's news and there is a snarky touch to it. It's just enough. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08978510193425522267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-51153659432492308882015-09-10T20:51:26.803+12:002015-09-10T20:51:26.803+12:00I don't keep up with the news at all and I'...I don't keep up with the news at all and I'm so much happier for it! If there's something major going on in the world I hear about it from friends and family anyway so I don't feel completely cut off from the world! Love your blog!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11494821762734824678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130537499074859934.post-32277261313852389582015-09-10T19:31:55.130+12:002015-09-10T19:31:55.130+12:00I've never been a big news watcher, or much te...I've never been a big news watcher, or much television at all for that matter. We cancelled our cable a few months ago and I find life to be so much more peaceful. I don't have horrible news stories, advertisements, etc being pushed at me all day long. Often we'd just turn the tv on out of habit and not really watch anything. I forgot how nice it is to just have peace and quiet at home without those television voices. I do a lot more reading now which I enjoy so much more than a tv.Annanoreply@blogger.com