I sure wish I had saved the critique I got when I first posted the poem that I used the term "... save those who share my plight." The way I remember it, I was told that I was thinking way to much of myself and giving myself too much power that I don't have. It stung me when it was said, but as I thought about it, it dawned on me that the person who critiqued my poem was right.

A Christian believes that Jesus died on the cross to save humanity from their sins, yet how many actually accept the sacrifice as soul saving? I'm a Christian and I believe it. But what makes me think I have the power to "save" anyone from their wrongful thinking or lack of action?? Even Jesus' sacrifice is rejected day after day and I believe that He is the Son of God! You believe in God, Darrel. Think about what I've just said and see what you come up with. I think that letting go of the idea that you want to "save" people will ease a lot of the frustration and depression that you're feeling.

I honestly feel we've been slipping into lethargy as a society

Not only lethargy, but apathy! So many people cop out by saying "one vote, my voice" won't change a thing so why care, why try. I'm as guilty of that thinking as anyone else.

I put "conveniences" in quotes because ... it's made our life more difficult.

The only thing I have to reference that is what Jerry always preaches at me. Forty years ago, we didn't have the choices we have today. Take the car, for instance. There were Fords and there were Chevys. They were all black and came with the same "extras" which weren't really extras. Now we have a myriad of makes, colors, extras, etc., which puts the buyer into shock or makes him want to get just a bit more than his neighbor got on his model. I'm not sure if this is what you're talking about. You can enlighten me.

Of course, we can consider your ideas. That's what this is all about. But having tried to "save" grandparents the agony I went through made me realize that I had to bring the problem back home... to keep it personal. I avoided my problem, even here in my own State when I got involved in researching the laws and trying to change them. Suddenly, I found myself dealing with grandparents from as far away as England and Australia!! All this time, I forgot about my more immediate problem and solutions for my own situation. I was spread way to thin!! The outcome of that is that I didn't change anything for the State of California, much less for myself!

That's what I mean by narrowing your field of vision for the time being... until you deal with your personal problems and the external reasons for your depression.

Thinking is not a physical action. Doing is.

Exactly!! In my experience with depression, no amount of thinking, much less action will change anything for me because of the chemical imbalance in my brain. I have to restore the "balance" (} before I can even begin to think properly. Depression distorts the perspective to the point that it becomes convoluted; backwards, inside out and sideways!!

I'm not going to tell you what your next action needs to be, but I think you can gather what I'm thinking. The decision is yours and yours alone. To me, you're perspective isn't too far off, though. It's entirely possible that with some minor adjustment to your thinking, a lot of that depression and frustration will disappear on it's own.

BTW, I fully expect the dragon to give out a puff or two of smoke. That's perfectly fine with me.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Darrel}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}



<font color=blue>Don't die with your music still inside you.</font color=blue>