Let’s start out right here: if you’re not interested in a positive take on current affairs or interested in hopefulness instead of hopelessness, move right along. This is only going to piss you off.
But I have to get through the day. And I know there are some folks here struggling to find a way to get through the day, too. I feel like I can at least do something to help with that.
Here are two videos I watched today that I found helpful, especially since I have been both angry and heartbroken hearing all the lies about California, particularly LA. A city where I have lived, worked and played off and on over the past thirty years. A vibrant city, a lot in part due to its beautiful immigrant population.
If you’re not familiar with Hank Green, he and his brother are worth learning about. The end of the video, when he casually adds the fact they funded the hospital center in SierraLeone, should at least pique your interest in what he and his brother do in addition to their day jobs.
I really like this video, because yesterday Hank was having my day, when everything felt hopeless and I actually had to quit watching that video halfway through, because I was already depressed and stressed. I went and walked the dogs, listening to music instead. And remembered there are A LOT of good people out there.
Hank seemed to have a similar experience:
Jun 13, 2025I’ve got three or four strategies in this video, depending on how you count. But overall, I probably need to shift my brain out of a mentality where I think about whether I’m winning or losing, and shift toward simply asking whether I am acting in ways that are in concert with my goals.
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The second video is the one Hank refers to in his video. I was curious, and I wasn’t disappointed. Jamelle Bouie’s thoughts:
Jun 10, 2025 CHARLOTTESVILLELots of conversation about whether the Los Angeles protests will help or hurt President Trump’s political standing. Here’s my case that they are more likely to hurt him than help him, and that his response — and his decision to escalate to using the military — represents weakness rather than strength. Of course, we’ll ultimately see what happens. I hope I’m right. Also, for those of you care, I’m wearing a ballcap from my alma mater, the University of Virginia, an Italian linen sportcoat from J. Crew, a blue oxford from Proper Cloth and a emblematic tie from Polo Ralph Lauren, bought second-hand.
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Finally, just for fun – the top 10 dogs this week:
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If you are feeling overwhelmed, find one thing you can do, no matter how simple, even if it’s just being kind to someone you know is vulnerable, every day. Those acts make a difference. And don’t forget to do something nice for yourself, too.
Stay safe this weekend!
This is a positive vibes thread. Including sharing how you get to hope when you feel hopeless.
cmorenc
The same Hank Green who makes lots of extremely informative, thoughtful science-related videos? And you know him personally? Way cool!
Gloria DryGarden
I soothe my nerves with David Attenborough nature videos. There’s a new one, called ocean. He’s always great. There are some lovely videos about octopuses, many underwater ocean videos, to fill one’s attention. Some BBC, some David, some not.
If I write an angry poem, I also write some sweet beauty nature haiku thing, some vignette of peace or calm. For balance. Usually I find some friend to read them to, to celebrate.
I call friends, maybe do tapping or affirmations together.
i live for my daily spritz of grapefruit essential oil, and my bite of dark chocolate.
And then there are trees, and stars, and plants in general. And songs about Mother Earth.
And all the positive studies and actions around the world, being reported on geo sky, blue skys geography page.
zhena gogolia
Thank you! Just got home from a lovely dinner, and this was great to see.
zhena gogolia
I get to hope by trying to help the people in my immediate environment.
Ohio Mom
We don’t know what is going to happen is one of my mantras. It is nice to have it affirmed.
different-church-lady
I’d be a hell of a lot more worried about things if there were no conflict right now.
Ohio Mom
Another touchstone for me is a piece Josh Marshall wrote right after Trump was elected the first time, where he talks about having an ethic of optimism:
“I’ve been reading various reader emails this morning…Many of these emails simply express shock, others anger and fear, to Trump, to the universe, to me. There is a lot of fear. I know. I feel it. At such a moment I come back to a thought I’ve told family members at times of stress or grief. Optimism isn’t principally an analysis of present reality. It’s an ethic. It is not based on denial or rosy thinking. It is a moral posture toward the world we find ourselves in. If everything seems great, there’s no need for optimism. The river of good news just carries you along.”
Jeffro
@Gloria DryGarden: it’s funny, we were watching a nature video with David Attenborough (“Our Planet II ?) just last night. I think we’ll look for a more cheery one next time…OP2 was about climate change and the first two episodes, at least, focused on how so many creatures at the poles are screwed due to warming. It ended up being uncharacteristically depressing so we’ll find another series next time.
planetjanet
It helps me to get a good bike ride in, to feel the wind in my face. It makes me focus on the immediate, the physical, awareness of everything around me. That breaks the worried thinking or trying to solve things if for just a couple of hours. Trying to get one in a week, battling against the fickle weather and my endless to-do list.
Omnes Omnibus
A small thing that helps out: the old Boy Scout camping motto. “Leave it cleaner than you found it.” If approach things with that attitude, you aren’t going to fix everything but things will be slightly better. I guarantee that you will feel a little better too.
Melancholy Jaques
@Ohio Mom:
This may be the most important proposition revealed by history: At the time, no one knew what was coming.
― Haruki Murakami, in his novel 1Q84
bbleh
Brilliant. And when I spiral into anxiety / depression / OMG everything is horrible, I realize it’s because I’m not connecting with other people. Even a LITTLE connection with other people can change your perspective. (BJ helps immensely with this btw, all praise and gratitude.) It gets you outside of yourself. Go DO things, even little things, in the Big Wide World for or at least with other people. A little goes a long way in my experience.
different-church-lady
@Ohio Mom:
“Say what you want about the tenants of Optimisim, Dude, at least it’s an ethos.”
RevRick
Hope is kind of a religious emotion. St. Paul, after all, linked it as part of a trinity of emotions: faith, hope, and love. It sees the possibilities of something better even when all the evidence seems hopeless. But it needs to be anchored in something beyond itself, because otherwise it is just wishful thinking.
I think it’s pretty damn obvious that my hope is anchored in the Jesus story. But I would love to hear what your hope is anchored in.
No One of Consequence
If this helps anyone else, it helps me. Simple, joyful, cool and groovy.
It is also a repeat, I have posted it before. Listen to the fist couple three minutes before you decide it isn’t for you, or for your mood. In my experience, it was for me, and it changes my mood.
So nice, I list it twice:
Dollar Brand – Capetown Fringe
youtube.com/watch?v=FXfWLrLwW_4
And here’s a historical account on the record, which I have never read, but just realized is listed along with.
kalamu.com/bol/2008/03/17/abdullah-ibrahim-%E2%80%9Cmannenberg-is-where-it%E2%80%99s-happening%E2%80…
Abdullah Ibrahim. Don’t know all the history on this one yet, but I loved it since I first heard it. Not on 100 listens yet, but deep into double digits. I love the sax overlay, reminds me of many tunes over the years that have that kind of exploration, or at least what feels to me like it.
YMMV, but I hope by not much,
-NOoC
There’s a lot worse things you can do with 13:27.
TaMara
@RevRick: I return to the Beatitudes when all the fake, hateful christians become too much to bear.
bbleh
@RevRick: essential unity.
RevRick
@TaMara: Martin Luther thought that the Beatitudes were so beyond human capability that the only possible response was to drive us to our knees. But in that act of surrender came true freedom, because we understood it no longer depended just on me. It liberates us from our fears and ego needs. It’s the ultimate blindfolded trust fall.
RevRick
@bbleh: do say more. Unity with whom? Achieved how?
MCat
TaMara, I’m with you. We just cannot focus on the darkness in our midst. There are actually gzillions of wonderful kind people in the world. Thanks for the positive videos. And the dogs are just marvelous.
Jay
youtube.com/watch?v=B_r2goS4070
CBC, The Nature of Things, Nature is Queer as F**k.
Full episode.
RevRick
@Omnes Omnibus: I never was a Boy Scout, but I often patrol streets in my neighborhood and pick up litter, and aluminum cans for recycling. I have been caught in the act a number of times and have been asked why.
For me, doing that work is far gentler on my soul than having a constant inner conversation grousing about it.
bbleh
@RevRick: unity with ALL beings, as a principle and attitude. Achieved … well … that’s kinda tougher. Like maybe a lifetime of practice that may not get quite where one might want. But I think it involves skepticism, questioning one’s beliefs and one’s conception of self (though not to an absurdly self-destructive degree), and conversely maintaining an open (insert other words here) attitude toward others and their ideas, even those one might not want to, or just not think to.
ETA: and yes, acting accordingly. Faith without deeds, etc.
MagdaInBlack
@Jay: Um, the uploader does not want Americans to see this. or YouTube doesn’t.
Jay
@MagdaInBlack:
Use your VPN to change your location to some place in Canada,
Or try to load it through CBC GEM.
Chetan Murthy
TaMara, even those of us who are dooming right now, can appreciate that it’s important for others to feel optimism, b/c without it they won’t act. And -acting- is what will change things. So even though I’m still in a pit of despond, I applaud your post, and the efforts of the people you highlight.
Matt McIrvin
I find that nihilistic death-cult thinking is a side effect of sleep deprivation. (This is actually something the movie “Fight Club” nailed.) If I can get over the hump of rumination on this making it hard to go to sleep, I can feel a lot better.
NightSky
Be with friends and/or animals (esp dogs or horses), help others even in tiny ways, time in nature (or my backyard staring up into my 100′ foot tall atlas cedar), sing along with great oldies in the car (where no one can hear me), read BJ posts and donate to causes, write postcards, and create “beauty” of any sort (from sewing to ceramics).
I am optimistic that the protests tomorrow will be significant. I went to a local one in April with one friend. It was encouraging to be with so many others who saw the dangers and were nice and funny. When I read (here maybe?) that some research indicates that successful overthrows of autocracies in the past 100 years tended to have about 3.5% of the population protesting — and that was only twice what we had in April, I vowed that next time I’d try to bring some friends. So this time I casually mentioned it to several folks and suddenly I have a list of 15 of us who plan to meet up there tomorrow (suburb of LA). I take this as a good sign! Now I just have to make a terse, clever sign to hold up! this blog offers many phrases that have potential, e.g. “Reject the greedy hubris of repulsive creeps, liars and puppy killers.”
Be safe and sane everyone and be with others you like/love/admire/or can help.
Quiltingfool
I’m making a hospice quilt right now. (My quilt guild makes hospice quilts and Quilts of Valor). When I work on it, I just hope it will bring comfort. And maybe a bit of joy.
And making these quilts brings me joy.
I also get away from the crazy by thinking about quilt designs. I’d like to make a quilt that has appliqués of Balloon Juice cats. I’ve been working on making appliqué patterns from photos, and more cat photos means more practice!
Joy in FL
TaMara, Thanks for the videos. Thanks for the post.
Lyrebird
@Quiltingfool: Hi! I couldn’t find the thread again – hope you saw my reply about piecing I have done with castoff men’s ties. Not at all saying you should! Best to you!
Thanks Tamara for providing these!
And I haven’t placed the order yet – also overwhelmed here – but I will try some of the Hank Green endorsed low-waste cleaning products this month.
pajaro
this is not the least bit original, but I try to keep hope and optimism separate. The opposite of optimism is pessimism. The opposite of hope is despair. I can be pessimistic about what’s likely to happen without losing hope.
stinger
Thank you, TaMara.
Gloria DryGarden
@Chetan Murthy: are you on blue sky? My cranky doomish micropoetry is there. Sometimes it helps me when I see others write their dis _____, into poems. That others, too, fell unhappy and frustrate$ and etc about this.
sometimes I just need to vent and say mean things about the situation, or read it done up artistically by others..
dis. Disappointment, disharmony, disenfranchisement, disgust…dislike, etc Tout ça me fair mal.
Kelly
“Long Way Home” on Apple TV is calm and relaxing. Two old friends Ewan MacGregor and Charlie Boorman riding elderly motorcycles around Europe.
Chetan Murthy
@Gloria DryGarden: I’m not on bsky. I found that when I got banned from Twitter, my mental state improved markedly, b/c I couldn’t read and then be compelled to respond to all manner of moral abominations. So I don’t plan on joining any social network. B-J comments and LG&M are sort of social networks, but they have mechanisms for ejecting the moral abominations, so it’s not as bad here.
Gloria DryGarden
There ain’t no Kings, in the usa
Facebook link, an uplifting song too good not to share. I’ll look for it on YouTube to share Better. Dancing in my seat. impossible not to dance.
prostratedragon
Number 10 Cat with a tribute to Brian Wilson.
Melancholy Jaques
Since we are posting quotes:
I am not even a little bit religious, but those lines resonate with me and I think of them when I’m feeling down.
Gloria DryGarden
@Omnes Omnibus: always, when I go camping. I Ieave it better than I found it. Always. Sometimes it’s the first thing I do, even as I choose my spot for the tent.
One time, on a trip to canyonlands nothing sacred or magical was happening, at all, and it usually Does. Ordinary rocks, some ho hum desert plants (I’m usually way more bowled over by the beauty) but I got an opportunity for an unusual service, and I realized that must have been my purpose that time.
There was a weed, iny favorite campsite, puncture vine. I found one growing right where I wanted to sleep. The seeds, also called goats head, have big thorns that can take out a bike inner tube, and certainly an inflated thermostat. Not ok.
So I went over that ground very carefully to get all of it, then noticed it had been tracked and thus planted all along the path to the outhouse. I cleared as much of it as I could find, got permission from the Rangets, was able to convince them i knew which plant I was pulling, and wasn’t confused by any look alike plants. (Showed them my copy of Weeds of the West, bought specifically to identify this very plant in its baby stage., so they knew I knew what I was doing) Lot of hard work, some very full trash cans, and the knowledge that I had definitely left the place better than I found it, without violating national Park regulations.
Gloria DryGarden
@Jeffro: he does often hit on the need for protection and care for our planet. The Ocean one just alluded to it, he talks about how marine protected areas are causing tremendous bounce back of populations. Basically hopeful and uplifting.
Gloria DryGarden
@planetjanet: you reminded me of the sensory exercises where you find resources, places that feel good in your body, something you can see, feel, taste smell, hear, that delights or pleases you. Like your wind in the face.
In trauma therapy, they often start with finding something that feels good, inside, or outside.
I needed to remember this. Thanks
Quiltingfool
@Lyrebird: The best thing about quilting is you can make any kind of quilt out of anything you want! There is something for everyone!
Me, I am fond of traditional blocks. I look up quilt blocks in my quilt encyclopedia to find out the names they were given and when the patterns were first published in ladies magazines or in newspapers.
Most quilt patterns published aren’t really original. The blocks have been around for a long time, but drafting a pattern and writing good instructions are no small feat, so kudos to quilt designers!
eclare
@RevRick:
Wow. I have to think about that. Thank you.
David_C
@RevRick: Pentecost was just last Sunday, and I keep coming back to the disciples who were still gathering, trying to overcome their hopelessness, but wondering what to do. And then…
Nancy
Good morning,
I have a friend who remembers birthdays. She invites people she doesn’t often see to meet for breakfast.
She texts me to see how I’m doing.
She brings joy to others, and rhe fact of her kindness in the midst of her busy life is enough to keep me hopeful about the rest of the world.