What's Next?

While our opportunities for accessing information seem to be ever expanding, I am sort of getting the feeling that our collective intelligence is not!
I say this because within the past week I have heard of two ridiculous ideas out there in the world. There are A LOT of ridiculous ideas out there, this is not a new trend. I understand. You know, the old “Don’t believe everything you hear”. Which is now “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet”. Frankly, it’s frickin’ insane how much crap is out there and it’s even more insane how much of it is actually believed by readers. It is taken at face value because a few persuasive words get thrown in there and the reader is vulnerable and struggling in some way that seems to somehow relate. I am not exempt from this phenomenon either.
So now, there are many podcasts and blogs showing up about debunking ridiculous claims. I only hope the debunked don’t start getting rebunked because my head is already spinning! However, I will say that in regards to the two recent ridiculous ideas, I will NOT start a practice of putting period blood on my face to manage acne and I certainly would NOT put chewing tobacco or nicotine pouches in my vagina as a way to stop smoking. FYI, I don’t smoke but now comes my favorite hashtag moment… #comeONpeopleNOW.
I try to make sense of it all. I try to put myself in the shoes of the person or entity sharing such information. What purpose are they fulfilling by making this claim? I repeatedly come up with anger and frustration. Then, in the shoes of the person who has bought into the idea. I can easily find compassion here but I also just want to shake people awake and say “I know you are smarter than this!”. I don’t know why I try. My husband just rolls his eyes at me when I read him something off the internet and then goes back to doing whatever it was he was doing when I interrupted him with an inconsequential tidbit. I really should take a page from his play book and just stop reading about things.
But I can’t! I like to learn new things. I like to be able to understand what is going on out there so that I can be informed and pass on helpful pieces of information to people who come to me seeking advice and care on their healing journey. Or at least that is what I tell myself. I listen to some remarkable people who have remarkable ideas about living out your best life. I then think back on that idea and contemplate what is a ‘best life’? Is this just another version of looking for the meaning of life? And of course, there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. I mean, really ‘one size fits all’ should be a banned sentence. A sentence that has been debunked numerous times and thereby should be removed from existence, in any language.
I think I have secret dreams of being a big voice in this world. One that people might say, “oh, did you hear what Shannon said?” Then again, as I type that sentence I cringe, so I am not sure that is exactly true either. I know I just want people to be finding pleasure in their own worlds in whatever way works for them. I guess I have brought it on myself to think that maybe I can play a role in that process. While I do think it has happened a time or two over the years, I do know that the reality is … each individual is responsible for their own happiness. I focus on being authentic, peaceful, loving and telling stories that are meant to get a laugh. Ultimately, I am just playing my part in society. As are you.

​I wonder where we are headed!