WOW! Did you ever hit the nail on the head with this post. Even outside my dementia caregiver world, I am constantly amazed at how little I recognize the world around me from what I read in the press. I live in the Middle East, in Israel, in my ancient homeland on the east coast of the country - what many refer to as the West Bank (west of Jordan). Few who do not live here are willing to look at the reality of Jewish-Arab co-existence that we experience day in and day out. Bad stuff happens and when it does it is BAD. But we also have the option of living focused on the good, the experiences that are ignored because it does not fit someone else's narrative (about my life). And in my caregiver's world, how often do I hear people cursing all the things that are wrong in every government office. And yes, sometimes the bureaucracy is exhausting. But sometimes, if we look for the good, it is there to be found. No one will write the story of my annual encounter with a mid-level bureaucrat in the Tax Authority. An annual form that I must file, that 90% of the population now files on line, is complicated by virtue of my husband's disability status. It takes 5 minutes in the knowing hands of the bureaucrat. Our annual meeting last 20-30 minutes. We discuss faith, humanity, gratitude, etc. When I asked last week if she could set up the internet connection so I can file the form on line, she stopped short and said absolutely NO!. And why? Because then we would be denied our annual conversation that is good for both of us. Find the good. It's often there, right here.
WOW! Did you ever hit the nail on the head with this post. Even outside my dementia caregiver world, I am constantly amazed at how little I recognize the world around me from what I read in the press. I live in the Middle East, in Israel, in my ancient homeland on the east coast of the country - what many refer to as the West Bank (west of Jordan). Few who do not live here are willing to look at the reality of Jewish-Arab co-existence that we experience day in and day out. Bad stuff happens and when it does it is BAD. But we also have the option of living focused on the good, the experiences that are ignored because it does not fit someone else's narrative (about my life). And in my caregiver's world, how often do I hear people cursing all the things that are wrong in every government office. And yes, sometimes the bureaucracy is exhausting. But sometimes, if we look for the good, it is there to be found. No one will write the story of my annual encounter with a mid-level bureaucrat in the Tax Authority. An annual form that I must file, that 90% of the population now files on line, is complicated by virtue of my husband's disability status. It takes 5 minutes in the knowing hands of the bureaucrat. Our annual meeting last 20-30 minutes. We discuss faith, humanity, gratitude, etc. When I asked last week if she could set up the internet connection so I can file the form on line, she stopped short and said absolutely NO!. And why? Because then we would be denied our annual conversation that is good for both of us. Find the good. It's often there, right here.
Thank you for this post. Your observations feel very relevant to me at this moment & I loved your links. Even more than usual today.