Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..hard to know....

5/4/2022

19 Comments

 

..what to write about lately. I know from the numbers that you are all still there, but you have gone very quiet. Undrstndably. You perhaps don't knw what to say either as the shock of this horrific war can make all else seem inconsequential.

As Susan in Dorset so encouragingly pointed out in yesterday's comments:

Negative intentions and actions spread out in  waves, as we are seeing, but so do positive intentions and actions.


I am thinking a lot about what I can do, who do I listen to, how much do I watch and about horticultural quietism (!).


The Estonian singer Mari Kalkun says 'We are all activists and must stand up for peace'.  I would add for all the things that are the antithesis of war. You can hear her about 3 minutes into the programme.

More soon.

My brain as well as my herat is hurting.

Yours too?

19 Comments
Susan in Dorset
5/4/2022 11:47:07 pm

I'm heartbroken and very angry, and trying to stay on the side of solutions and not veer into retribution.

Some possible actions are:
1. Moving all funds from banks & companies that invest in weapons (most high street banks) to ones that don't e.g. smile bank/Co-op or Triodos bank or building society. Move any shares to ethical companies.
2. Emailing Russian institutions with factual information & calls for their solidarity. (I'll start with ballet companies).
3. I email the Kremlin every few days! (I'm sure a 'bot' deletes my emails on their arrival, but maybe someone gets to read them.)
4. Donate, if we can. Host, if we can. (Dr Roman Cleg's team at UCL take medical supplies right into Ukraine.)
5. Contact our MPs and insist that the government ceases to buy Russian fuel.
6. I'm aspiring to be kind and more generous-hearted to everyone, including people who's attitude and behaviour I don't like.
7. Live a simple, good, peaceful life: plant primulas and arrange them beautifully in a jar.
8. Pray, meditate, contemplate: seek a sense of stillness, from which ideas for effective action can arise. The balm of your blog, is one place of such stillness, Freda.


Reply
Freda
6/4/2022 02:27:50 pm

That is a brilliant list Susan. It is so important to do SOMETHING. Thank you for sharing it here.

Reply
Clare Rose
9/4/2022 03:01:55 am

I think that this will be a long effort and everyone involved will need supporting through it. That might include opening a garden and offering tea and cake for refugee hosts and their guests later in the year. There may be a local group to support refugees that you could join and they would have more ideas. 😉

Reply
Gail
6/4/2022 03:24:16 am

I like Susan’s ideas to actively do something. I’m already doing 6,7,8 (except lilacs for primulas).
Additionally, I regularly write the President if USA requesting common sense in our fossil fuel production. We have enough for us and extra to help our European friends .

Reply
Freda
6/4/2022 02:29:33 pm

We may very soon need that help! Thank you for your effort.

Reply
Mary R.
6/4/2022 07:07:26 am

Good Morning, Freda! I have so enjoyed so very much your posts and pictures lately but realize I have also been quiet. I have been an Ostrich with my head in the sand regarding world events and hoping that my simple and peaceful feelings will ripple out to help this chaotic planet. Doesn’t seem to be any thing else I can do but have compassion for the bits and pieces I hear. Please do know that we are here and very grateful for your website.

Reply
Freda
6/4/2022 02:32:25 pm

It’s very hard. Creating a own little patch of peace and harmony ads to the amount of peace and harmony in the world. That’s a fact not to be ignored I believe. Even doing that can be difficult enough!

Reply
Gwendoline
6/4/2022 12:22:31 pm

I’m sorry I’ve been quiet. It really does seem, sometimes, that words are not equal to the occasion and I forget that one of the most crucial things to do in the teeth of evil is simply to keep the flame of good connections burning. Possibly not the best metaphor but I hope it makes enough sense. I’m just trying to make enough sense. Hugs to all who pass here and would like one.

Reply
Freda
6/4/2022 02:35:58 pm

I will have one for a start. Thank you! I think it is a great metaphor. Good connections could be said to mean everything, both in intimate relations and in world affairs. It’s impossible to make sense of this situation, but we can try to make sense of our situation.

Reply
Rosemary
6/4/2022 01:16:03 pm

I always read your blog, but don't always have the right words to respond. Thank you, Susan for your 8 points. I need to think about all of them, and will. Don't need to think about the last sentence because I know that very well.

Reply
Freda
6/4/2022 02:38:59 pm

I am also inspired by Susans suggestions. I plan to keep the blog is a peaceful place, but I just had to acknowledge the horrible situation and the suffering. It’s anything but simple.

Reply
Freda
6/4/2022 02:39:52 pm

Thank you all for your intelligent and compassionate comments. It is such a difficult time.

Reply
Gillie
6/4/2022 10:47:17 pm

I always read but rarely comment. I’m in my final months of working and find your blog inspirational for the type of retirement that I desire. It’s all feeling very discombobulating at the moment though!

Reply
Freda
7/4/2022 02:29:46 am

Isn’t that a fantastic word? I hope you are not too discombobulated for too long, and that you can enjoy the planning as much as I hope you enjoy your retirement. Thanks for reading and for commenting Gillie!

Reply
Gillie
7/4/2022 11:35:16 am

I love this blog. Thanks Freda

Grace
7/4/2022 09:34:47 am

I am a little late in joining this conversation. We must all take action in whatever way we can, be it through fundraising, donations, hosting, volunteering, writing to the powers that be … (to reiterate much of what has already been said). No act of solidarity is too small. I was very moved listening to Mari Kulman singing and speaking – thank you for sharing that Freda. In an attempt to find a calm space in the midst of the ongoing tragedy, I took out an anthology of Wendell Berry’s poems and came across one entitled To a Siberian Woodsman (after looking at some pictures in a magazine). Poignant and somehow very apt …

Reply
Freda
7/4/2022 02:34:44 pm

That poem is very apt and very moving. Thank you for introducing me to it Grace.

Reply
Grace
7/4/2022 09:36:38 am

Sorry, it's Mari Kalkun!

Reply
Elizabeth
12/4/2022 02:55:42 pm

Dear Freda, I feel very weighed down with it all but spirits lifted tonight.Not only did my son come for supper but two old frends from my Thirsk days turned up on the doorstep as we were finishing and came in for a cuppa..Such a relief when people are as lovelyasyou remembered them and a conversation continues as if there were not three years in between. Feel so much more relaxed for their company. so counting my blessings.in this brief turning away from the gloom. Must avert my eyes more often.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.