The recent news about the chronic underfunding of treatment for those suffering from mental health issues may well have completely passed me by had I read it a decade ago. This sort of shows that it is very true that what catches our attention is predominantly the things that are ‘close’ – I have written elsewhere about how we are affected by the way in which the news is reported and “what catches our eye”.
Worldview
A Long Drive
Having been faced with a much longer journey to work over the last couple of years I have, as a result, obviously found myself driving more. I don’t think I would ever have been described as ‘aggressive’ in any way – and I like to think my driving matched that – but the extra time ‘on the road’ has, if anything made me even more sanguine and accepting of the plentiful supply of ‘bad situations’ and ‘bad driving’ that I meet each day.
Time To Talk
Today is “Time to Talk” Day (as well as World Cancer Day) and I think that writing something on the topic is near to essential for me. It is shocking to think that the figures show that 1 in 4 people will be afflicted with Mental Health issues in their lifetime. Once upon a time that sort of thing was taboo to talk about – not now, when it seems to affect everyone – one way or another.
Remembrance of Things Past Volume One: Swann’s Way
I started to read this book several years ago – and ever since Monty Python’s “Summarising Proust” sketch I guess the novels have been on my “ought to read” list.
Inadvertent Algorithmic Cruelty
I hadn’t come across this phrase until today, however it was coined (as I understand it) late last year when Facebook chose to ‘push’ their “Year in Review” feature to users by choosing a picture to illustrate the year and surrounding it with (generally) happy and joyous borders and the words “its been a great year”. Now – it doesn’t take much intelligence to realise that while – yes – most years are great in some respect – for some people the year will only hold bad memories whilst, for most, there will have been some low spots in an otherwise good year.
The Reality Of The Past
There are a number of “recurring themes” within my writing in this blog – no surprise there as my thoughts on particular topics are developed – and one of them is the subject of memories – an interesting topic in and of itself, but my particular area of thought is with regard to how real our memories are – both in terms of what (we think) we remember and also what we have banished or simply forgotten.
In Memory: A Tribute to Sir Terry Pratchett
A collection of short stories on the subject of memory by an assortment of authors. The book has been created in memory of Terry Pratchett and most of the stories contain themes that he would be familiar with. All of them relate to the importance of memories. An enjoyable read – but in bits rather than trying to read it like a novel – each story being self contained and quite different in character from the others.
So What Really IS Important?
We are only a few days into the new year and already items in the news have shocked me – have inspired me – have worried me – have surprised me – have saddened me – have ….. What we find out about the happenings around the globe has the capacity to affect us in a huge number of ways. What about – and this is entirely in keeping with the blog theme – the things we don’t know about?
Out With The Old!!
Having just checked back I discovered that since I started on this blog I have a woeful record when it comes to writing anything at the start of the year! Not a single post (until now) written in January of any year. I don’t think there is any particular reason for that – but it is time I broke the pattern. The other good reason for a post this month is that it completes 12 consecutive months with at least one post.
Just – WHY?
As we progress through life there is – at least for me – an increasing realisation that there are things that we do – that we enjoy doing – that are seemingly unproductive, unnecessary or just a “waste of time”. Yet we persist in doing them. For some people these can be harmful – to themselves or others – for others they are entirely benign – and yet the question remains – WHY?