Positivity is the practice of being or tendency to be positive or optimistic in attitude which in these times may be hard to assume with all that is going on. We are being bombarded from the left, right and middle by all manner of bad news and negativity from the news services.
As I stated the other day this is not a platform for politics so I will leave my feelings out of it. As a Christian, I generally leave my beliefs and sermons out of this blog also. Faith in a higher power does go a long ways in these times.
As a member of the human race, I relate to the fears and sorrow permeating our country. I feel as a blogger on a platform which reaches many people it is up to me to help truss up the fortitude and strength of all who are in the same boat, to spread a message of hope in this time no one foresaw coming a few short months ago.
The main thing I have found is to find a sidetrack to keep my mind off from this whole thing. We have a telephone to talk to our friends and relatives if we are staying at home, we have various forms of entertainment to keep us busy, games and activities which can be done in the home, hobbies if you have one and of course television (as long as you don’t keep it on CNN or MSNBC which can be depressing.)
Sure, we must keep informed on what is going on but not bombarded all of our waking hours. I like watching the old shows from the 60s and 70s on Prime and Netflicks. I have a discography of a couple of thousand hours of music which goes from the big band era through mainly the 1970s – yes, I am an audiophile. In these days it is hard to get true hi-fidelity music in MP3 format due to much of the info being stripped down to make the files smaller, this is an explanation which I will get into another time.
Reading a good book is another good pastime which I am happy to see more kids getting into especially in my family.
Here are some resources for free books and music which can be downloaded:
EBooks
- https://www.free-ebooks.net/
- https://www.gutenberg.org/
- https://www.bookbub.com/ebook-deals/free-ebooks
- https://manybooks.net/
- https://openlibrary.org/
Music
- https://freemusicarchive.org/
- https://freeplaymusic.com/
- https://www.jamendo.com/?language=en
- https://www.accuradio.com/
- https://www.amazon.com/s?k=free+music&rh=n%3A163856011&dc&qid=1584790726&rnid=2941120011&ref=sr_nr_n_9
- https://archive.org/details/etree
- http://www.jazz-on-line.com/
Resources for Kids
- https://bookflix.digital.scholastic.com/home?authCtx=U.794217314
- https://www.khanacademy.org/
- https://www.jumpstart.com/parents/resources/kids-resources
- https://www.education.com/worksheets/
- https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/printables
- http://amazingeducationalresources.com/
- https://schoolchoiceweek.com/keep-learning/
- https://www.woodtv.com/weather/ask-ellen/
There is no sense in hanging our heads to the ground with fear. One of my favorite quotes come from Frank Herbert the author of the Dune series:
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
We will see some snow tonight, not much, just a reminder it can still snow in March. Below is the NWS take:
The snow just keeps coming!
Great post MV & thanks for info. It has been snowing here and the grass is covered. Pavement is wet.
I have to say though my dog didn’t like that surprise tonight. Looks like the temps will warm up to the low 50’s this week.
🙂
It was another great weekend of cross country skiing up in snow country! Near perfect conditions and now the snow is rolling into SW Lower MI! incredible!
Wonderful post, Michael. I appreciate the links too.
I am trying to remain positive (especially for our 12 and 15 year olds), but it is very challenging.
Some good news, though: My wife’s cousin, who was our flower girl in our wedding, is in the hospital now getting ready to have their first baby. They do not know what she is having, so we will all be surprised. We are all anxiously waiting for the blessed news.
It’s a boy!
He will be named either Henry or Miles. Happy times!
Awesome! Great to hear some good news!
GREAT NEWS!!
34* out at the YARD furnace running feels like Winter out there not the end of March crazy..We are getting there ….INDY
Nother below average day on the way ?? Well least the sun is out we are getting there have a nice sunday …INDY
As for the weather, it sure has been an up and down week, but one would expect that in March. 60’s one day, 30’s the next. Probably the one month out of the year we can see some wild extremes both highs and lows. Awesome to see the sun again this morning!
yes, March is the month with the biggest temperature swings. In March it is not unusual for the there to be 30° swings. And between the record highest and lowest March also leads the way with the record high of 87 and a record low of -13. November 1950 has the largest within month swing with a record high of 81 on the 1st and a record low of -10 on the 25th
Slim
Hey all, yes I am still here! Just a crazy week that has unfolded starting last Monday with being shut down by the state. MV you are dead on about positivity and fear. Monday we were all in shock, but Tuesday I woke up determined to take charge and make the best of what we had and that did not change all week. You can either stay huddled in fear, or you can let it pass through you and then make the best of each situation that arises. I’ve pushed a lot of people this week and the results have… Read more »
At this time it is clear here and the temperature is a rather cold 19 here at my house.
Slim
Thanks for the links MV. I have been spending a lot of time watching Netflix there are so many things to watch on Netflix the problem is finding something good. For anyone who has Comcast I do not know about all levels but the one I have has “While you are home” thing running now and they have Showtime on for free. So I have now started watching some of the Showtime stuff. My wife watching TV all day long. I do not watch as much as I will watch a movie later in the evening. I have to wonder… Read more »
In regards to the baby boom my wife and I were talking about that last night.
I said the same thing about a baby boom… lol