I know what the interwebs is for

I have been where you are. The internet is full of increasingly horrible content — it fosters antisocial behavior, and the algorithm is focused only on money and hateful rhetoric that divides. Meanwhile, our political leaders in this country are plotting against their own populace. Wars abound. People are suffering and dying. Natural disasters are an everyday occurrence, mostly brought on by human greed. Worldwide, no end in sight. The feelings of helplessness were with me every waking minute.

A few months ago, I did not want to see another news broadcast. Not look at another story, read another post. If it wasn't for my relationship with Susan and my focus on making something beautiful in the studio, I would have been really despondent. Even the Covid lockdown and restrictions did not have such a negative effect on me.

So I dove into a very intense project of placing one of my workshops online, making videos, samples and PDFs for over a month. I got busy, real busy. I was so tired I did not have time for the tube, nor watching the world turn. Susan was traveling for business, so I was home alone. I also realized that I had to center myself spiritually. I simply could not allow 'crazy' in my life.

If you know me, you know I like opposing opinions. I read Truth Social, Al Jazeera, the NY Times, NBC — for balance and the sheer shock of it all. I was trying to find the missing calm in the storms of the world.

I decided to make every day a practice of radical gratitude, generosity and love. Yup, even set a daily reminder in my calendar. I started to talk to myself out loud. Good things. No, I was not dribbling from my mouth, not shouting random crap to strangers in the store. Don't own a gun.

I made it a point to reach out to my social media friends and compliment their work. I unfriended people who were narcissistic or negative all the time. Let go of the ones I hadn't been in touch with in years. Took a 30-day break on people who overshared the negative. Stopped following folks who put shit out into the feed. Man, I know so many beautiful people, making beautiful work.

It's magnifying. Almost every day the sky is brighter. I am younger, even more handsome — thinner, too. The birds are chirping and the unicorns are visiting the garden every day. Yeah, right. Not quite. At 72, I am experiencing the loss of friends, of relatives, of people I love. Things that do have impact are still there. However, I am not despondent.

Things began to shift. Slowly but most assuredly. I started to see the beauty my friends were making in their art — and they were seeing mine. We shared stories, struggles, successes. That damn algorithm took the hint and showed me more of it. So it dawned on me the other day: I am really digging the connections I am making. Fabulous art in the feed, wonderful people across the world, very supportive personally and professionally. So, I know what the interwebs is for. Making better connections to better people, supportive people, loving people

My work is going well. I am loving what I am making. Forging new paths, trying new ideas I see in my mind's eye. I think there are a few real breakthroughs, too. We'll see. Time will tell. One thing is for sure: I'm in a much better place spiritually. But those damn unicorns still poop everywhere.

Thought I'd share.