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Robert Kraybill's avatar

Thank you Jack, for giving us guidance on "how" to think about the overwhelming amount of data that confronts us every day. Being aware and thinking about the most important items for me today is great advice. We all needed this!

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Teri Gelini's avatar

I read several things and some days so many are writing about the same thing that has happened and I find I have to skim some articles and decide what to keep for further use. It is not easy some days but we all have lives to live and other issues not politically related like a spouse or kid that needs attention or care. Some days I find going out and doing yard work helps to reset or washing the car. Physical work helps me. I love what you write or I would not have become a paying member. Keep up the good work.Thanks for your input on this mess of a fire he keeps flaming

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Debby Burnett's avatar

Oh man. This is so much me.

Overwhelmed

But I can pick up a 🔨 and then put it down when I need a break. Or need to pick up another tool.

Thank you. 🙏

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Robyn Campbell's avatar

Thanks for this, I needed it today!

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Ellen Gregorie's avatar

Thank you, Jack! I'm so glad I didn't "flag" this post to remind me to read it later, along with the other dozens of important emails that have come in since Friday. Yesterday was filled with the No Kings protest; today was filled with the journey home. You can imagine how many important emails I found in my inbox! Something told me to read yours first, and I am so glad I did. My heart stopped racing, my brain stopped yelling "You're NEVER gonna catch up!". Then, I took a deep soothing breath and decided to do something nice for myself--turn the gushing firehose down to a slow trickle, vacuum up the giant dust bunnies I've been ignoring in favor of catching up on Substack, fold the mountain of laundry that has piled up, snuggle with my kitties for a while, and then come back to my laptop and Substack with happy cats and without tripping over those giant dust bunnies!

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laura oshea's avatar

Deep breaths everybody and stay woke. Awake and alert to everything that is happening is hard so try your best to do the best for yourself. If you need to disengage for a while then do so. Take care of yourself so that you can do your best to keep up with what is coming out of the fire hose.

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Gray Zebra's avatar

Thank you for recognizing this issue. So many of us are trying to keep up and it’s impossible. I can’t read all day (I’m a slow reader) then exercise and do the laundry etc! Life happens. I have to check out sometimes and I do it by letting my mind rest and focus on playing Mahjong. 😝

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Joanne Rossmassler Fritz's avatar

Thanks, Jack. I love the idea of a toolbox of options. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed. Everyone, take a deep breath. You’re doing fine.

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Deborah Jacobson's avatar

Thank you for guiding me through.

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Julie  Stokes's avatar

Thank you Jack … needed your realistic pep talk & the need to give myself grace when feeling overwhelmed with the abundance of information. You are always my first read choice!!

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Kelly Rundel's avatar

Ditto ! Thanks Jack 🙂

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Concerned Citizen's avatar

Thank you for understanding and sharing. You’re right about the information and choices we can take. Breathe in, assimilate, breathe out, repeat.

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Larry Bushard's avatar

Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it!

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Dayna Logan's avatar

Thank you for this. I feel this way a lot. It is very overwhelming.

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Lori R's avatar

Thank you for this much needed advice Jack. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed during these chaotic times. I’m learning to step back & take care of myself. It helps me to stay centered & focused on what I can do.

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JP4M's avatar

Wahoo, thanks so much to you, Jack for clarifying that I am human rather than always behind! I think we all do what we can. One thing I have learned is that in trying to rush or to do more than one thing at a time, usually nothing works. Your newsletters are so valuable, and I save every one of them, reading all I can as they arrive, and hoping I can absorb them fully to internalize over time. If time does not allow, even the mere exposure of the first reading is a gift.

One positive note about being behind, depending on the category or circumstances, of course, is that there nearly always is something of value to anticipate for another day and beyond.

I believe it was in an Amish cookbook where I first read the expression and later heard it quoted, “The hurrier I go, the hinder I get.” I have learned to understand that thought through the decades. The phone keeps changing the way I write that, so I hope it stays put as quoted this time.

Thanks for all you do, Jack. This has been a day for trying to catch up with some important messages. We will keep the faith, be thankful for all the good people who care to help do what they can for human good, and do what we can in the meantime. It is a relief to know that I simply am human, even though some humans seem to accomplish more than I do.

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Cherae Stone's avatar

Good talk.

Thanks.

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