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!
Love this, Robert...thank you. The goal isn’t to out-read the firehose; it’s to out-think it. If today you picked the 1–3 items that matter and took one concrete step on each, you already beat the noise. What’s the single “most important” you’re acting on next? Drop it here...whenever...and if...you like. Feel free to make these threads your daily clarity checkpoint.
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
That means a lot, Teri...thank you. You’re absolutely right: there’s only so much chaos a human nervous system can absorb before it needs dirt...water...and real air.
That’s not avoidance...it’s balance. Yard work...a car wash...a walk… those are the resets that keep us sane enough to stay engaged instead of burning out.
The fact that you’re aware of that rhythm means you’re doing it right. I’m honored you’re part of this paid circle...it’s readers like you who prove clarity and calm are still acts of resistance.
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.
Exactly right, Laura...and beautifully said. This isn’t a sprint...it’s an endurance event for the mind and soul. The goal isn’t to stare into the firehose 24/7...it’s to stay steady enough to see clearly when it matters most.
Take the breath. Step back when you need to. Then come back grounded...informed...and ready. That’s how we outlast the chaos...and how truth wins in the long game.
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!
That made me smile, Ellen...thank you for sharing that. You just described the exact balance this whole community is trying to build: engaged...informed...but still human.
The world’s chaos will always try to convince us that rest is weakness...but it’s actually strategy.
You hit pause...took care of your space...your animals...and your peace… and that’s how we stay strong enough to show back up clear-eyed. Give those kitties an extra scratch from all of us...they’re part of the resistance team now.
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. 😝
Exactly...that’s the perfect reset. The world can wait while you play a few rounds of Mahjong and let your mind breathe. That isn’t checking out...it’s maintaining the mental bandwidth to stay clear...sharp...and sane.
The constant flood of news is designed to wear people down; you’re doing the smart thing by managing your energy instead of letting it manage you. Keep that ritual...those pauses are how we stay strong enough to keep paying attention when it counts most.
Thank you, Joanne...that means a lot. And you’re right: we all need that reminder. None of us can hold the whole world at once...but we can reach for the right tool when things start to feel heavy...a breath...a walk...a pause...a laugh.
That’s how you stay centered in the storm. You’re doing exactly what strong people do: slowing down...re-anchoring...and then carrying on clear-minded.
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!!
That means the world, Julie...thank you. Giving yourself grace isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. The people who burn out trying to read everything lose the clarity that made them valuable in the first place.
The fact that you can pause...breathe...and come back grounded is strength in its purest form. And knowing I’m your first read? That’s fuel for me to keep showing up at my absolute best for you.
Beautifully said...and that rhythm is everything. Information...choice...breath...it’s the same cycle as life itself. We take in what matters, process it...release what doesn’t...and then start again a little clearer than before.
That’s how we stay human in an age built to overwhelm us. Thank you for reminding everyone that calm and awareness can coexist...that’s exactly the balance we’re all aiming for.
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.
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.
Thanks for this column. I am overwhelmed with information. I have had to decide which columnists I'm going to read and which, although excellent, I am going to have to ignore for now. A lot of the information is repetitious anyway. But I have to say that even after the turnout yesterday, I feel dispirited. There are 330,000,000 people in this country. There were 7,000,000,00 of us on the streets. Are there actually 323,000,000 people who approve of what's happening in the US? If not, where the hell were they? Some of us are Boomers, which puts us in our late 60s, 70s, and 80s. We cannot carry this load. I'm 76: I've written letters, marched in protests, hung signs. I really want to know what people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s are doing because Fascism is going to hurt them a hell of a lot more than it is going to hurt me at this point.
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!
Love this, Robert...thank you. The goal isn’t to out-read the firehose; it’s to out-think it. If today you picked the 1–3 items that matter and took one concrete step on each, you already beat the noise. What’s the single “most important” you’re acting on next? Drop it here...whenever...and if...you like. Feel free to make these threads your daily clarity checkpoint.
-Jack
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
That means a lot, Teri...thank you. You’re absolutely right: there’s only so much chaos a human nervous system can absorb before it needs dirt...water...and real air.
That’s not avoidance...it’s balance. Yard work...a car wash...a walk… those are the resets that keep us sane enough to stay engaged instead of burning out.
The fact that you’re aware of that rhythm means you’re doing it right. I’m honored you’re part of this paid circle...it’s readers like you who prove clarity and calm are still acts of resistance.
-Jack
Thanks for this, I needed it today!
You're welcome, Robyn.
-Jack
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. 🙏
Perfect, Debby! You've got it:)
-Jack
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.
Exactly right, Laura...and beautifully said. This isn’t a sprint...it’s an endurance event for the mind and soul. The goal isn’t to stare into the firehose 24/7...it’s to stay steady enough to see clearly when it matters most.
Take the breath. Step back when you need to. Then come back grounded...informed...and ready. That’s how we outlast the chaos...and how truth wins in the long game.
-Jack
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!
That made me smile, Ellen...thank you for sharing that. You just described the exact balance this whole community is trying to build: engaged...informed...but still human.
The world’s chaos will always try to convince us that rest is weakness...but it’s actually strategy.
You hit pause...took care of your space...your animals...and your peace… and that’s how we stay strong enough to show back up clear-eyed. Give those kitties an extra scratch from all of us...they’re part of the resistance team now.
-Jack
Now, you've made me smile...and the kitties, too!
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. 😝
Exactly...that’s the perfect reset. The world can wait while you play a few rounds of Mahjong and let your mind breathe. That isn’t checking out...it’s maintaining the mental bandwidth to stay clear...sharp...and sane.
The constant flood of news is designed to wear people down; you’re doing the smart thing by managing your energy instead of letting it manage you. Keep that ritual...those pauses are how we stay strong enough to keep paying attention when it counts most.
-Jack
Oh Jack…😍🥰💙💙💙💙💕💕💕
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.
Thank you, Joanne...that means a lot. And you’re right: we all need that reminder. None of us can hold the whole world at once...but we can reach for the right tool when things start to feel heavy...a breath...a walk...a pause...a laugh.
That’s how you stay centered in the storm. You’re doing exactly what strong people do: slowing down...re-anchoring...and then carrying on clear-minded.
-Jack
Thank you for guiding me through.
You're welcome, Deborah.
-Jack
Thank you for this. I feel this way a lot. It is very overwhelming.
You're welcome, Dayna.
-Jack
Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it!
You're welcome, Larry. Thank YOU.
-Jack
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!!
That means the world, Julie...thank you. Giving yourself grace isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. The people who burn out trying to read everything lose the clarity that made them valuable in the first place.
The fact that you can pause...breathe...and come back grounded is strength in its purest form. And knowing I’m your first read? That’s fuel for me to keep showing up at my absolute best for you.
-Jack
Ditto ! Thanks Jack 🙂
Of course, Kelly. Thank YOU.
-Jack
Thank you for understanding and sharing. You’re right about the information and choices we can take. Breathe in, assimilate, breathe out, repeat.
Beautifully said...and that rhythm is everything. Information...choice...breath...it’s the same cycle as life itself. We take in what matters, process it...release what doesn’t...and then start again a little clearer than before.
That’s how we stay human in an age built to overwhelm us. Thank you for reminding everyone that calm and awareness can coexist...that’s exactly the balance we’re all aiming for.
-Jack
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.
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.
Thanks for this column. I am overwhelmed with information. I have had to decide which columnists I'm going to read and which, although excellent, I am going to have to ignore for now. A lot of the information is repetitious anyway. But I have to say that even after the turnout yesterday, I feel dispirited. There are 330,000,000 people in this country. There were 7,000,000,00 of us on the streets. Are there actually 323,000,000 people who approve of what's happening in the US? If not, where the hell were they? Some of us are Boomers, which puts us in our late 60s, 70s, and 80s. We cannot carry this load. I'm 76: I've written letters, marched in protests, hung signs. I really want to know what people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s are doing because Fascism is going to hurt them a hell of a lot more than it is going to hurt me at this point.