What with Christmas coming, things are really busy at my house and I don't have time to put up something elaborate. I just want to wish everybody here the best of Christmases. I hope you and yours prosper and prevail in the coming year!
Here's a few songs to get you in the mood, if you're not already:
And a Merry Xmas to you too, Eddie. Hope you, John, Mike, and the whole gang have a fun time. Unfortunately, my holiday really isn't going to be that great this year because of all the financial difficulty and hardships my family is going through right now and all the uncertainty that my mother is feeling about all of it. Let's just put it at that.
Oh well, at least you picked some really wonderful Christmas music to celebrate the occasion. It's purely good music that can make anyone feel giddy on the inside, IMO.
Roberto: Bummer about the financial problems. I shouldn't offer advice because I have much less worldly wisdom than most people, but the temptation is irresistable, so here goes.
If it's any comfort, hardship has been the normal condition of most of the human race for our entire history on this planet. One of the ways that people coped with it in the past was to have lots of birhday parties, festivals, friends, dinners with friends, dances, family feuds and intrigues, wars, chasing the opposite sex, religion, following obsessions, helping people who are even worse off, etc.
The idea was to take your mind off your problems on a regular basis so that you'd be refreshed when you returned to them. People used to compartimentalize their minds. When the time came to worry or work hard, they did it and out single-minded energy into it. When the time came to take their minds off things, they did that too, as energetically as possible.
The one thing to avoid is thoughts of suicide. Statistically you're not likely to do it, and wasting time thinking about it will only put you in a state of melancholy, which will increase your problems. If you determine to stick it through no matter what, and really mean it with no reservations, you unleash a lot of locked up, problem solving energy.
If things get really bad, and you're at the end of your tether, it's time to read Epictitus. He's the philosopher of last resort. He pulled me out of the two worst crises in my life. Some of that philosophy is implied in the film "Pursuit of Happiness."
Scrawney, Ben, Steven: Thanks, and have a good holiday!
Merry Christmas Uncle Eddie!!! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!! I look forward to your next post. Lots of love to everyone this Christmas season!!
Merry Christmas, Eddie! Glad to see Dylan's 'Must Be Santa' get a link! I think that song is pure Christmas fun, and reminds me of every family gathering I've ever had. Thanks for all the wisdom over the years!
Merry Christmas Eddie! This blog has had a massive impact on the way I look at art, cartooning and life in general. Every day you update is like a mini Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas Uncle Eddie, from New Zealand!
ReplyDeleteI wish you a Merry Christmas, too!
ReplyDeleteAnd a Merry Xmas to you too, Eddie. Hope you, John, Mike, and the whole gang have a fun time. Unfortunately, my holiday really isn't going to be that great this year because of all the financial difficulty and hardships my family is going through right now and all the uncertainty that my mother is feeling about all of it. Let's just put it at that.
ReplyDeleteOh well, at least you picked some really wonderful Christmas music to celebrate the occasion. It's purely good music that can make anyone feel giddy on the inside, IMO.
Uncle Eddie, when I grow up I want to be just like you.
ReplyDeleteRoberto: Bummer about the financial problems. I shouldn't offer advice because I have much less worldly wisdom than most people, but the temptation is irresistable, so here goes.
ReplyDeleteIf it's any comfort, hardship has been the normal condition of most of the human race for our entire history on this planet. One of the ways that people coped with it in the past was to have lots of birhday parties, festivals, friends, dinners with friends, dances, family feuds and intrigues, wars, chasing the opposite sex, religion, following obsessions, helping people who are even worse off, etc.
The idea was to take your mind off your problems on a regular basis so that you'd be refreshed when you returned to them. People used to compartimentalize their minds. When the time came to worry or work hard, they did it and out single-minded energy into it. When the time came to take their minds off things, they did that too, as energetically as possible.
The one thing to avoid is thoughts of suicide. Statistically you're not likely to do it, and wasting time thinking about it will only put you in a state of melancholy, which will increase your problems. If you determine to stick it through no matter what, and really mean it with no reservations, you unleash a lot of locked up, problem solving energy.
If things get really bad, and you're at the end of your tether, it's time to read Epictitus. He's the philosopher of last resort. He pulled me out of the two worst crises in my life. Some of that philosophy is implied in the film "Pursuit of Happiness."
Scrawney, Ben, Steven: Thanks, and have a good holiday!
Merry Christmas Uncle Eddie!!! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!! I look forward to your next post. Lots of love to everyone this Christmas season!!
ReplyDeleteBTW, would you mind looking at my blog? I'd like to know what you think. Honest criticism is welcome.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, U. E.;
ReplyDeletetechnically not a holiday song, but has a end of the year feel.
sligoriverblues
Merry Christmas, Eddie! Glad to see Dylan's 'Must Be Santa' get a link! I think that song is pure Christmas fun, and reminds me of every family gathering I've ever had. Thanks for all the wisdom over the years!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Eddie! RE: the idea of compartmentalizing your thoughts, have you ever read the psychological theory of the ancient Bicameral mind?
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameralism_%28psychology%29
Merry Christmas Eddie! This blog has had a massive impact on the way I look at art, cartooning and life in general. Every day you update is like a mini Christmas morning.
ReplyDeleteThomas, Jorge, Eric: I'm having trouble accessing the computer so I haven't followed up on the links you put up. I'll get to them ASAP.
ReplyDeleteEric, Anon: Thanks for the kind words!