No Reading Meme for Once

[osprey_archer]

I usually write my Wednesday Reading Meme out ahead, as I finish things, but I didn't this week and after the election results I don't have the heart for it; it seems rather pointless.

I suppose one could also argue that continuing to see the point, or hope for a point, in times of darkness is in itself pointful - this is not a very eloquent way to put it; I didn't sleep well last night - anyway. So I guess I'll do a short version of the reading meme anyway.

This last week I finished reading the newest American Girl series, which I mean to give its own separate post (still no illustrations D:, but it is an improvement over the Maryellen series), and Madeleine L'Engle's memoir A Circle of Quiet, which I actually did find inspiring, although in an introspective way - she had some things to say about self-absorption as a form of self-annihilation that I found thought-provoking, that we are most ourselves when we are least conscious of ourselves -

But I also meant to write about that at more length in its own entry. And while it is inspiring, it is not the finding-a-light-when-all-seems-dark inspiration for the moment.

I made scones this morning, and broke out the strawberry-rhubarb preserves my father brought me from Maine, and Julie and I had a breakfast tea party. I have sugar cookies in the oven to take to work for the holiday set-up this evening. I am not sure what else to do.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thank you for those thoughts from A Circle of Quiet; I agree--and I speak as someone who's sometimes suffered from self-absorption.

As for the rest, it's awful. I just try to keep in mind that while there's life there's always hope, that people still want to do, and are doing, good things, and that it's still within my power to help in those endeavors. But my eyes and heart are sore.

Spending time with a friend, eating strawberry-rhubarb preserves, and sugar cookies are all good things.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Occasional self-absorption is probably a universal part of the human condition. I think one of the most difficult things we ever learn is that we are not the center of the universe, and we have to keep learning it again and again.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I haven't made up my mind to do a reading post or not – it's certainly not like I'm getting much work done, so it might be a distraction, if nothing else.

Scones and preserves sound very good.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I think that in the wake of disaster, it's important to keep doing things, even if they're things that don't seem to address the disaster at all. Just keep going and hope the momentum carries us back up.

[konstantya.livejournal.com]

It's a strange sort of heartbreak, I've realized--the emotional desolation and devastation is honestly very similar to the desolation and devastation I felt when my first love broke up with me.

I was tempted to just lay in bed all day (and being self-employed, I could have done just that), but I made myself get up and get some work done. Pouring my heartbreak into work was what saved me then, and while I know from experience that it doesn't make things right, it does help. One must keep moving. Now more than ever, because it isn't just myself with the broken heart this time.

I'm honestly not sure where I'm going with this reply, but strawberry-rhubarb preserves and sugar cookies sound wonderful. They're a small comfort, I'm sure, but sometimes small comforts are the most important. <3

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

It still doesn't feel real somehow. I keep realizing all over again that Trump won the election and it hurts and surprises me every time. How can this be real?

I had to go to work, so staying in bed wasn't an option, and I'm going to try to get at least a few hundred words on my NaNo. It's a bit "Keep calm and carry on," I guess? Inasmuch as we can continue with our everyday lives, it's a victory.