Help someone

I have previously referenced seeing online behavior from Trumpers that is very antisocial.

This includes putting laughing emojis on stories of abuse, swarming over positive stories with contradictions (Portland is completely burned down!), and attacking any statement from a Democrat leader with accusations of lies and corruption.

(The last part is also pretty leftist, if we are still tracking similarities.)

Previously when I have mentioned it, that has been more because of the lack of information that goes into it or the hypocrisy; if you are happy about "King" Trump, you can't have cared about the constitution that much, and not only is Portland not burned to the ground but the people asserting it the most are far from here and wouldn't really know.

The other thing that has occurred to me is that your life has to feel really empty to do that.

When the masking questions and comments came in, I did have to spend some extra time answering and administering and deciding how to handle things that had a surface friendliness. 

I also took pauses in that because I was making dinner or hanging out with my family or reading. I am not always online.

When I am online, of course I get caught up into doom-scrolling or watching videos or playing Solitaire sometimes. For the most part there is intentional use of time for homework or friendship or things that interest me.

There is too much in my life to get solely caught up in cheering on my (corrupt and hateful) team. I really don't have the time. 

Maybe that's reversed; maybe because I don't have the time I can't get too caught up in some things. 

I am frequently dismayed by how quickly time passes and how long some things take to get done, but there appears to be an upside. I can't remember the last time I was bored.

I was thinking of that issue; what can you do if your life seems empty and meaningless? 

What if you don't like yourself enough, so you need to glom onto someone more powerful for satisfaction?

The obvious answer is service to others. Then you have purpose. Then you are doing something.

That isn't just rewarding; it's empowering.

Thinking about that doom-scrolling, it is so easy to feel angry and hopeless, but whom does that serve?

I will be posting about this more in the Sunday blog, but I have a strong desire to fix everything so that everyone is happy and comfortable.

That is completely beyond my power. 

I can make someone's day easier. 

I can do something.

There are so many options.

Lately things I think about more include homelessness and the elderly. Yes, I have been thinking about those as separate issues, but I recently watched a documentary, No Place to Grow Old, and you can combine those concerns too.

https://www.noplacetogrowold.com/ 

If I look at Blanchet House, I can find continuing volunteer opportunities, ways to contribute one-time, and opportunities for different kinds of donations.

https://blanchethouse.org/

If I wanted a similar focus but more religious, I could find opportunities through Union Gospel Mission:

https://ugmportland.org/ 

If I wanted to search in my area, I could enter my zip code into https://www.justserve.org/.

It was through a one-time project found there that I have been exposed to opportunities to help with foster children:

https://everychildoregon.org/ 

There are so many options. With most, not only are you helping and taking action, but you are also finding other people who are committed to helping. 

That can make it easier to feel hopeful.

You don't have to complicate it. Maybe this weekend you will just take someone cookies, or cook a double portion of dinner and take it to someone, or organize a coat drive or become a tutor.

It is possible to help.

Potential action item: Do something for someone.