LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE??

The shootings that took place last week have put me in a tail spin - along with feelings of minor depression. First, the murder of the therapist in New York by her colleagues’ client. (It wasn’t even her patient.) Secondly, the death of the 6 students at Northern Illinois University by an obviously mentally disturbed young man. And, the question we all have is: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE???!!! These types of incidences are happening way too often.

I found I got even more upset by the President’s latest scam to protect his lobbying buddies at the phone companies by insisting that Congress grant the phone companies immunity for doing illegal acts. Of course, he had to say that it was important to national security and that we would all be blown to smithereens if we don’t protect the financial interests of AT&T and others who contribute heavily to the Republicans. Hmmm, how does that relate? It doesn’t!! National security is one thing. Granting limitless favors to protect big business is another. Interesting how this President seems to intertwine the two – invoking fear, more fear, code red, terrorism and alien invasions on behalf of the communications industry. Sort of makes you wonder who really planned 911.

As I consider all of these events, along with the endless war in Iraq, it’s no wonder Americans are losing it. Forces outside of us have taken over. We feel we have so little control. We have a government that is playing mind games with us. We have a media that never (and I mean never) tells the entire story of what is going on. Years later, we find out about cover ups, lies, distortions and the media going along with all of it, never bothering to dig an inch deeper into self serving press releases.

Everyday, another scam or lie is revealed. (Couldn’t it have been discovered beforehand?) Most of us just want to live our lives without any great storm flooding our days. We want health – mental and physical- loving family and friends and we want to contribute in a positive way to the world around us. Most of us don’t care about having millions. It might be nice, but we really want our bills paid, a nice vacation once a year and a feeling of security, both internal and external. And, we don’t want our houses foreclosed on.

As many of you are aware, the Danes are considered the happiest people on the planet. They have a good standard of living, and rank family and friends as their highest priority. They also don’t worry about health care or education – knowing that they will be taken care of. But, in America – where the streets are supposed to be paved with gold – where we can be, do and have anything, we are not that high on the happiness or satisfaction level.

That’s because it is all a lie. We can’t have it all. We hear all these so called famous people telling us ‘don’t give up your dreams.’ In the next breath, they also say, ‘don’t give up your day job.’ Well, eventually, you might have to give up those dreams to stay mentally sane. You might have to look at what is precious to you in life. If it’s fame and fortune – you will never be satisfied. You will never have enough and you will find your mental, physical and emotional health all negatively affected.

No, I am not saying forget where your passion lies. Go after what you want, but sometimes, after years of struggle and unhappiness, you might just want to give it up and go after something attainable.

The killings this past week were done by people considered to have mental health problems. What was not attainable to them? Where did life go wrong for them? What weren’t these people told about themselves? What medications were they on – was it helpful or harmful?

What are you doing for your life, your family, your country to make sure you are mentally and emotionally sound? Think about your daily life, your contribution to yourself and others and how all these types of events are affecting you. Where are your frustrations and aggravations? How are you treating others and vice versa?

The answer, of course, is not to go out and shoot someone. The answer may be in accepting things the way they are and realizing what you can and can’t do and give up what you can’t. Express yourself appropriately-without physical or verbal violence. If you can help change things in some small way, then make sure to do it. Talk to someone about how you are doing. Don’t isolate yourself.

I know this doesn’t answer the dilemmas that face us or even address my initial opening, but it does shed some light on why we are all so frustrated and why some people’s frustration leads to aggressive behavior.