I think that I'm depressed.
Not in the true meaning of clinical depression but just generally peed off with life, the universe and everything (thank you, Douglas Adams).
With apologies to any supporters of Donald Trump who might stumble across this blog, I think that he is one of the main causes.
I've managed into my ninth decade and am very grateful for the fact that I still have (to some degree or another) all my faculties. That despite, at the age of 15, having a disease that people still die of today. The remedy was to remove a lobe of a lung and, to this day, I'm grateful for the hospital team involved in what, 64 years ago, was quite major surgery. It was after that that I had a very brief bout of post-operative clinical depression. I used to go walking for hours and hours on end alone with my thoughts. It was very short-lived. That was 64 years ago and I've never had a hint since. I count myself exceptionally fortunate.
The other thing is that I never was an ideas person. However, I'm very good at executing practical ideas provided they are within my capabilities.
I'm very grateful for the readers of the blog who have asked if I'm okay. Thank you. I apologise (again) for the fact that I've been neglecting my blogging duties.
Have any of my other readers who may be, shall we say, not as young as they once were, found that life takes a bit longer in just about every way?
Short of something really drastic happening there will be another post this coming weekend.
Everything takes me ages, and, yes, it's depressing. Having a nap and pretending it's not happening helps. It's the time of year. But look, we are both still here, and tough enough to put up with it. I liken it to a hard mountain walk. You wonder if you are ever going to get there, then bit by bit you do. Keep going, Graham.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tasker. It's 0515 and these are the first words I've read today. I'm going to copy your words and enlarge them and they sit there looking at me and will be my 'inspiration' for the day. Indeed they may be my inspiration for a good deal longer.
DeleteYes, I'm with you, Graham. I think back to my younger years and wonder how I had the energy. Partly it was because I had to have the energy. There's no harm in taking life at a slower pace, even if it feels like dead slow and stop at times. Keep the brain active and the rest will follow . . . maybe.
ReplyDeleteJanice, your 'maybe' made me laugh out loud. Up until that point I was feeling the inspiration of your words!
DeleteDefinitely feeling slower and wondering how I used to do so much, but keeping busy and mentally stimulated- and you have been a great role model to,us all for many years…. I think everyone is struggling with world events in general - I am trying to focus on all the good things and hope world sanity prevails.
ReplyDeleteFi, the phrase 'world sanity' seems, these days, like an oxymoron. Talking of morons.......
DeleteYou phrase it well, Graham. I may be a decade younger but I have the same feeling: Just about everything seems to take me longer than it used to. Unless it's the world that's spinning faster these days...? ;-)
ReplyDeleteMonica, I rather like the idea of the world spinning faster and it just being me at the same pace at which I've always been.
DeleteBless you, Graham! Here is something that should cheer you up, at least you are not living in America! Depressing? Oh honey, I could write a book of all the reasons we Americans should be depressed. Still, we keep hanging on....and yes, as I age, I think everything takes me ages longer than it used to do. So, hang in there and enjoy your lovely island with great friends!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay. I keep on keeping on......so far. I feel for you and yours, I really do.
DeleteBetter for not rushing...and finding that I'm achieving a satisfying amount!
ReplyDeleteIn her 90s, my grandmother always said "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get"....
And still there is so much to do....
Gwynneth, I like your grandmother's words of wisdom.
Deleteagree with you. The current political climate is depressing, too many people in power who are in it for themselves.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Amy, indeed!
DeleteIt is good to read from you, Graham. This time, I was not really worried about your absence, because a) you always have a lot going on in your offline life and b) I was away myseld for two weeks.
ReplyDeleteWith the current state of affairs worldwide, it would seem natural to become depressed. One of the mysteries of clinical depression, however, is that often those people who objectively have good reason to be depressed aren‘t suffering from clinical depression, while those who seemingly have not so much tomworry about, descend into the deepest dark realm.
Meike, I assume that you were in England as usual for this time of year. I hope to fully catch up with Blogland during the weekend.
DeleteI've been in England in July/August with my sister; my September holiday was with O.K. to the Mosel region, new to both of us.
DeleteThanks. for the response, Meike. I shall hopefully manage to catch up with Blogland more today.
DeleteYour good attitude, I feel, will help you through difficult times.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about that depression source. Already dealing with a hard depression for months, since January the depression burden only builds.
I worry the American people will reach a breaking point because it is one outrageous thing after another. Fascism is here in America is real.
May
May, a severe problem is that what the President of the US does can affect the entire World.
DeleteLet me tell I don't have depression but things slow down drastically.
ReplyDeleteYes, Red, they certainly do.
DeleteI consider myself very fortunate to have been born 'happy', and that happiness has continued throughout my life. Even when I'm in pain (quite often) I still manage pleasant thoughts. What I shouldn't do is read The News.
ReplyDeleteCroo, I. have been trying desparately to stop reading anything at all that smells of the T word.
DeleteWhile somewhat younger, I have slowed down a lot, and I don't care. That's life.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, the perfect attitude!
DeleteNice to hear from you again Graham. While thousands of professionals around the world are doing their best to combat depression in different ways, Donald Trump seems to be doing his damnedest to counteract their good work. Every TV appearance, every bombastic social media outburst, every insult, every tacky product he promotes adds to the weight of misery and hopelessness.
ReplyDeleteI have been trawling the Apple apps to see if there is one that eliminates anything that smacks of that dreadful man from my phone. Unfortunately.......
DeleteThere is an opportunity for some tech wiz in that!
DeleteQuite honestly, I find myself regularly feeling overwhelmed and sad about the direction my country (and the world) is being led. I can't do anything but speak and live my convictions. I cannot change the big picture, but I can surely change the small one. Today I drove one elderly Amish lady to see her older sister who is very ill and in the hospital. They had not seen each other for years. It doesn't matter in the big scheme at all. But it mattered to them. It also raised my own spirits.
ReplyDeleteDebby, if we all just helped in all our own small ways, the total affect would be so positive. Well done, You!
DeleteMaybe life things should take longer than we allow for them. Think about how your post above might once have made its way out to so many readers and how long that would have taken - and for replies to come back. Everything is fast lane these days - even in backwaters like yours and mine.
ReplyDeleteYes, Tigger's Mum, we have become very impatient without even realising it most of the time.
DeleteDistress at the state of the world seems to be ever present for any thinking person. I hope you are able to put it aside for long enough to enjoy some good moments
ReplyDeleteKylie. I'm a very fortunate person and have (and have had) a very good life. I feel very sad, though, for my younger family and all those coming to adulthood now. I don't think they are going to have anywhere near as good a time in the world as my generation have had.
DeleteIt is easy to get depressed at the news, with little chance that it’s going to get any better, but that is quite different from personal depression which can lead to very dark places. I am at that stage where funerals outnumber other events and I realize that fulminating about corrupt politicians and the inevitable proclivity of humans for war, and the sprint to the bottom by so many, is futile. The Grim Reaper is sharpening his scythe for all of us, and worry will count for nought in the final outcome. The bell really does “toll for thee.” And him, and her. So blissful ignorance may be the perfect panacea!
ReplyDeleteDavid, thank you. That was a verythe edifying comment. I'm aware of and not concerned by my own proximity to the tolling of the bell and worrying about anything is a futile occupation.
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