Perhaps get into a momentary rage (spitting an expletive or two) helps to cool down when I find Why don't WE help Each Other with what is free and immediately available: Socially nurturing connection, in person, over phone, over zoom, in common community places. One study that Harvard Univ founds helps with longest healthy life is Meaningful Social Engagement. Indeed S.G. Murthy has said years ago in his first appointment under Obama:
"Unlike many other illnesses, what I find profoundly empowering about addressing loneliness is that the ultimate solution to loneliness lies in each of us. We can be the medicine that each other needs. We can be the solution other people crave. We are all doctors and we are all healers. The question is, do we have the courage to speak up and to stand up for others, to reach out to them when we feel they may be in need."
It lifts my spirit every time I find one more effort has dashed in My Face.
https://qz.com/1420602/feeling-lonely-vivek-murthy-says-to-get-out-of-your-head-and-help-someone-else/
We can be the medicine that each other need”: The 19th US surgeon general on ending loneliness
I've joined a retired people's lifelong learning group that will start in 3 weeks. I hope it will help. In the meantime I'm busy with others, one is about dementia, another a book club on Sackler's Pain Empire, a poetry get together in a Library. I feel I must keep looking in areas that interest ME, or I'll have double the reason to curse Myself.
And yes, stay healthy with what we still can: nutritious diet, regular activity, some nap after lunch. It assures me sound sleep in a 80 y.o. body.
Good luck folks!
Sisyphus-
A careless swipe of the touch pad has erased my deeply thought out reply. I’ll try again. Appropriate?
There may be times that our emotions are expressing something we don’t yet know how to put into words. This is especially the case when we are in realms for which prepared fixes don’t exist.
Feelings are our body’s way to talk to our mind.
It may be worth trying to sit with them a while to see if we can get a message that we can move with.
Is our need for purpose, meaning, curiosity and focus really different at 75, 55 or 35 years of age?
Our life has always been happening at the same time: Now!
Usually when I focus into that basic “Now” I find I can make peace with my emotions, and even receive their blessing.
I don’t have to manage 75 years of life all at once, I’m just responsible for this morning.
Yesterday, as I walked into the library, I exchanged cheerful greetings with someone who was walking out. In that moment a gloomy cloud that had been surrounding me for three days popped and floated away. A new book had been located and delivered just for me!