Dru Tieben's Writing Corner

Musings and Meanderings

Routine and Ritual

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

There’s a guy in our office who brings a large can of SpaghettiOs for lunch EVERY DAY. He heats them in the microwave in a large plastic Kool Whip type of bowl and consumes the whole can. How he eats that everyday is beyond me. I think that is his go to happy place routine. Maybe it reminds him of his afternoon snack or dinner with his mom or siblings. It’s just his thing. It may even be his ritual to get through the day.

We all have a daily routine, but it’s how we embrace it in the present and learn to grow it when change occurs. And what is the difference between routine and ritual? How do we perceive our actions? Does a routine entail a simple chore that must be completed to get to the next chore? Or is a routine a set of actions that bring “…meaning, learning or joy” into our lives?

“A daily routine is a series of tasks that you complete every day in the same order.” For me it is getting up in the morning, taking a shower, brushing my teeth, applying a little makeup, getting dressed, and making a breakfast or lunch, depending on if I am working that day. I may have time to check my home email and write a little in the morning, but then I go to the rec center or work depending on the day. At the end of the day, I like to come home, change clothes (take off the damned bra!) and get a snack and something to drink. I finish my writing, then clean up the kitchen and prepare dinner. Most nights we eat together in front of the TV, but when kiddo is home, we have a meal at the table. It’s always nice to catch up. That is a pretty good routine, albeit a lot of chore time.

“A daily ritual is similar to a daily routine since they are also a series of tasks that are completed in the same order. But a daily ritual differs in its intention. Daily rituals are meaningful practices and are internally motivated. A daily ritual can provide energy and enjoyment along with efficiency and structure. A ritual is a carefully selected way of doing something that has a sense of purpose and a positive side effect in addition to the straightforward completion of the task.”

Maybe the ritual started out as a chore, but I figured out how to make some of the things motivating and meaningful. For example, I use some lovely dishes and cups for my snack while I’m checking email or preparing notes for a blog. Maybe it’s the ritual of preparing the meal by taking out the ingredients, reading and following a recipe, or winging it with a new dish. Or, maybe it’s about processing a scene from the book with my spouse to figure out the ending. There is even a morning ritual of sorts where I take a look at our spending and savings to know where I’m at so I don’t worry about it all week. Reframing chores to the concept of “mentally preparing for my day” makes you a better person. “There’s a balance to be found with routine and ritual. We’ll always have routines that we need to do to be efficient. There’s always stuff that simply needs to be done. But there’s a lot of value in finding routines, (or even parts of routines), that we can turn into rituals for the benefit of a better day.”

“Rituals are the foundation upon which great work is completed. The difference between a daily routine and a daily ritual is intention….Creating daily rituals can help you be successful, whether that’s succeeding at business, creating amazing art, or becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be.” For more information on this excerpt go to:
https://www.lifehack.org/847758/daily-rituals

Another way to look at rituals versus routines is this lovely chart that I found on another website:

Attribute	Ritual	Routine
Definition	A set of actions performed in a specific order for a specific purpose	A sequence of actions regularly followed
Emotional Connection	Often associated with emotional significance or spiritual meaning	May lack emotional significance and be more practical in nature
Flexibility	Less flexible and more structured	More flexible and can be adjusted as needed
Frequency	Usually performed on specific occasions or events	Regularly performed on a daily or weekly basis
Intention	Performed with a specific intention or purpose in mind	May be performed out of habit or necessity

“Rituals and routines are essential components of our daily lives, each offering unique benefits and serving distinct purposes. While rituals are steeped in tradition, symbolism, and meaning, routines provide structure, efficiency, and predictability. By understanding the differences between the two and incorporating both into our lives, we can create a harmonious balance that enhances our well-being and enriches our experiences.” Feel free to check out this website for more information: https://thisvsthat.io/ritual-vs-routine

Change can unbalance us, but it’s how we balance these factors that make us a whole person—one that allows us to keep up with ourselves. Since I went back to work, my daily routine was disrupted and I had to get back to the essential rituals that helped me keep calm and centered. It takes me a little longer to process my daily thoughts after work, and sometimes I just have to sit for a few minutes to decompress before taking on the chores at home. I love reading a good book before I embrace the blog or novel. I love making dinner and cleaning up the dishes after the meal so they aren’t an eyesore in the mornings when I have to get up. I love to knit while watching TV at night. And I combine my Senior lunch day or Senior choir day with a workout afterwards. And in the summer I am in the yard! Happy times are a comin’ soon! If we keep trying to establish our rituals, we’ll feel whole, no matter what is thrown at us on a daily basis.

I love this rain! Thank the heavens for releasing it to this thirsty earth. Love to all tonight! Sleep well.

Absurdity Must Not Be Tolerated

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information—getting the facts wrong. Disinformation is false information which is deliberately intended to mislead—intentionally misstating the facts.
https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/misinformation-disinformation

“According to behavioral models, exposure to misinformation increases the odds that people will believe it, which in turn increases the odds that they will spread it….Misinformation spreads differently on social media than on legacy media such as television, radio, and newspapers. Mainstream news outlets tend to have robust safeguards in place to prevent and correct false claims, but several unique features of social media encourage viral content with low oversight. Rapid publication and peer-to-peer sharing allow ordinary users to distribute information quickly to large audiences, so misinformation can be policed only after the fact (if at all).” For more information go to the American Psychological Associations website and take a look at this article:
https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/how-why-misinformation-spreads

Another great article to read about how to critically evaluate online information is located at:
https://princetonlibrary.org/guides/misinformation-disinformation-malinformation-a-guide/

I am a great believer in education and encourage discourse every chance I get. But, when I hear the crazy misinformation that is being given out to the public at our nation’s capitol (yes, it is with an o, look it up!), I have to speak up. Absurdity (or Idiocy) is not okay.

Poul Anderson wrote a series of short stories that became a compendium known as The Complete Psychotechnic League. In the story called The Troublemakers, the protagonist stated that “…politics is the art of creating an equality of dissatisfaction.” This story unfolds in a spaceship bound for Alpha Centauri that would take centuries to get there. People grew old and died enroute, and the officers were in charge. The protagonist posed that the people in command made it a point to “stir up against each other men who should have been comrades [and] break the innocent with lies…provoke mutiny by injustice and intrigue…[and] infiltrate the revolts [that] they themselves had created [to] control them….” The people in charge believed that “cultures have momentum [and] don’t change overnight.” And, finally, he stated that “Conflict was inevitable.”

Anderson wrote this series of short stories over many decades (starting after World War II or late 1940s and ending in the 1980s during his life). These stories were later compiled in a more orderly date/time fashion and tweaked a little to make them fit in his future timeline. When he first wrote The Psychotechnic League as a short story, Anderson believed that conflict could be controlled if properly directed by using psychology and involving the United Nations (U.N.) as the supreme leaders in command. However, he changed his mind in his later years and decided that the U.N. shouldn’t be the folks in charge of a world government. But he also didn’t believe that any commander (or president) should have absolute overt control. He felt that indirect control could allow events to take their natural course.

What we are seeing in this decade is a massive surge of a control by our government for their own monetary personal gain. Society is being forced to change in order to retrieve control and retain personal freedom. Society is warring with each other and not understanding our own history. Cutting funds to education, fact-check news, and especially NPR and PBS funding is an affront to all those wishing to pass on correct knowledge to our future children and grandchildren.

And we the people are rebelling, even as social media by those in power condemn us. Most of us believe in education and understand that illiteracy cannot be tolerated.

Protests throughout history haven’t always gotten what we needed or wanted at the time, but everyone must understand that we all have a right to do so without people like that guy in office and his minion, you know who, attack you online and have the insane MAGA media defame you. Protesters, teachers, and professors being attacked online is not right. We all have rights, and I may not always agree with others, but shouting misinformation online and sharing this nonsense is ridiculous.

Nothing is free in life, but if each person who believes in free speech as well as reliable and credible speech (the other 50% and hopefully more now) would give a dollar to their local TV stations, especially NPR and PBS, it would add up quickly, and reach the .1% that is being cut by that guy in office. Legal civil disobedience in action can be an amazing and uplifting strategy. Billionaires shouldn’t be in charge of our money, or our news. They shouldn’t be able to demean us with their ridiculous diatribes. We can continue to have great unbiased news and lovely shows to watch if we all just pitch in to save them.

Out here, we love our local Rocky Mountain PBS and give to them as much as we can every time they fund raise. Those people in office that don’t have the intellectual capacity to understand the shows, they try to shut it down. Those who have never watched the kid shows that my child grew up on (and became an incredible person as a result of watching and participating in the lessons) should not have a say in what programming can be on television. They should look deep into their hearts and souls to understand what that guy in office is trying to do with their support.

It’s time for everyone in these positions to take a look at who they really are and why they were voted into office. It’s time to become human beings once again that are not afraid to stand up to money and power for the greater good.

The misinformation that our government and their minions are giving out to the world is simply just WRONG. They should be in therapy if their childhood was incredibly bad. They want others to suffer for their upbringing. No other child should suffer because of their personal history bias. Just keep telling them to go to therapy and listen to their constituents. We cannot be afraid like they are. We have to Get Up! Stand up! And take a stand!
Enough said.

Love to all tonight and wish for rain!

Sometimes It’s Okay to Ask for Help

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

Thank you kiddo for helping me today. Sometimes technology can be overwhelming to us oldsters but when someone like you shows me the way, it is a beautiful thing. Thanks for being you!

And on that note, take a look at my new book page! It looks so much nicer! Still working on Book III for both bigs and smalls for the series. (And after publication, he will help me once again, I’m sure!)

So my lesson for today is it’s okay to ask for help of any kind, but take notes and remember it for the future when you are endeavoring to learn something new. Don’t give up and feel overwhelmed about it (and don’t blame others because things are changing constantly in this world). Just remember the good ole’ days weren’t really that good and we can seek to find new ways to help each other every day we are on this planet.

A society that has isolated us in the past has made up feel like we have to go it alone when facing bad days and tough decisions. I have felt the guilt that my accomplishments haven’t been worthy by some people. I have faced difficult times where no one believed in the things I believed in. It has been hard to ask for help in my adult life and when I go it alone, I have a huge fear of failure.

So as I age, I have been trying to help others, even though I get a little annoyed when they don’t give back the way I feel they should. I admit to this flaw, and still go on to do the best I can every day. Our lives have been molded by stressors that pile up every day because others don’t feel we little guys are worthy of their help. So each day I ask the world and all of us little guys in it to care a little bit more about others. I ask everyone to be kind and just don’t worry about it. Giving of ourselves is free, and sometimes it just makes us feel better about our current situation. It’s a hard task for all, but we will persevere if we worry a little less. I’m still working on that part.

For more information about asking for help, go to:
https://www.wondermind.com/article/asking-for-help/

Take care of yourselves and others tonight and enjoy the warmth before the next storm!

Laugh Everyday – Ode to C. W. Metcalf

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

Today was an insane Monday in our little slice of city employment dominion. We had sooooo much mail that it took us over 2 hours to process it. Then, we had to enter everything into the computer. My co-worker and I got through it with her funny life stories and talking trash about some of the folks who sent the information in to us. We laughed, we cried, and all the while we felt so alive.

We all know the cliché—“laughter is the best medicine.” According to the Heart Foundation, “…studies have shown how laughing through life is beneficial for your health. Laughing lowers stress, reduces anger, and forces us to breathe. But there is a specific science to laughter and why it is so good for your heart. Here are the top 5 reasons you should laugh every single day:

Increases blood flow.
It counts as cardio.
Strengthens your immune system.
Reduces stress.
The benefits last.

5 Reasons You Should Laugh Everyday

And here are some more interesting fun facts on the Everyday Health website:
“Laughter is the physical manifestation of finding something funny, and it can help to reduce inflammation and stress hormones, improve circulation, and enhance the immune system.”
“Laughing changes brain activity.”
“Just a moment of laughter can allow us to think more clearly and creatively and strengthen a sense of connection with others.”

Don’t Worry About Being ‘Funny.’
Curate Your Comedy Collection.
Take a Laugh Break
Tap Laughter to Learn More
Don’t Be Afraid to Lighten Up

https://www.everydayhealth.com/self-care/how-to-laugh-more-every-single-day-why-its-so-good-for-you/

In 1992, C.W. Metcalf and Roma Felible authored a book called Lighten Up. I read this book to lighten up stressful situations when we were all under pressure. Being in law enforcement I understand the dark humor we all would use to relieve that pressure valve. Metcalf told us it was ok to laugh about horrible situations to “…release endorphins [that] diminish physical and psychological pain.” He also suggested that “…we quit focusing on the idiocy of others and the cruel circumstances of a universe that seems, at times, to be conspiring against us.” Finally, he talked about the three basic skills he hoped people would come away with after reading the book:

The First Humor Skill: The ability to see the absurdity in difficult situations.
The Second Humor Skill: The ability to take yourself lightly while taking your work seriously.
The Third Humor Skill: A disciplined sense of joy in being alive.

Like me, he was a boomer but grew up in the wild 1960’s. He identified with what it felt like turning 40 as an age where we were becoming our parents. We never thought we would and were disheartened. However, we saw the humor in it and moved on and tried to get along with everyone, even those grumpy folks! This book is one I would highly recommend to old and young readers to work through his process. He was a great writer and even more wonderful human being.

Here is an obituary of sorts created on a Facebook page to show how he impacted others.

“C.W. Metcalf was a highly respected teacher, performer, and author on the use of humor in stress management. His message was based on research with crisis and trauma survivors who remained healthy, resilient, and creative under pressure. Eventually, C.W.’s own life-and-death battles inspired him the most, as he recovered from two brain cancer surgeries and battled adult leukemia. In one of my all-time favorite MASTERS interviews, C.W. shared his cancer survivor’s joy in being alive. Sadly, C.W. lost his battle in 2007, but his powerful message is a wonderful legacy for all of us.”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mastersbywinnclaybaugh

So, wind down from the day, see the humor in all of it. Pat yourself on the back for getting through everything and enjoy the evening of mindless TV. And sing and laugh a little bit tonight. I love you all!

We’ll Sing in the Sunshine

It Will Be All Right

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

Some days you just never know if everything will turn out okay in the end. When it feels like nothing is working, take a few minutes, brave the wind, and go out and start cleaning out your garden, delighting in the green shoots that are rising up out of the ground. Water your emerging tulips and daffodils and be happy. Pick a few for the table! Be happy that you survived the worst days of winter for now.

Sing some songs for the next Senior Choir extravaganza!

Finish a task that was crazy difficult in your brain and be satisfied with the result.

Paint some doors and trim.

And make a beautiful chicken-rice casserole for dinner.

When you accomplish a task, clean out stuff (including your brain!), and cook, life goes on around you and your family is happy with the results. Take a moment to enjoy little stuff and prepare for the next day without worrying about tomorrow.

Here are a few of the quotes to get you through the night.
“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise again.”—Victor Hugo
“Blink away tears and walk forward and even, if the first step hurts, believe that everything will be okay. Someday it will.”—Unknown
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”—Eleanor Roosevelt
“The night is darkest just before dawn. Hold on, everything is going to be perfectly alright.”—Unknown.
For more of these sustaining quotes go to:
https://www.positivityblog.com/everything-will-be-ok-quotes/

So chill tonight and listen to this masterpiece:
Bob Marley Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright

Love to all on this wonderful day we’ve had!

Blame Game – Continued

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

“If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he’ll look for his own answers.”—Patrick Rothfuss

“You are responsible for your life. You can’t keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on.”—Oprah Winfrey

“All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming him, but you won’t succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy.”—Wayne Dyer

“Some people love being victims because they love being able to blame someone else. Accountability [emphasis mine] is too much for them. They don’t like being responsible [emphasis mine] for who they have become or where they are in life.”—Anonymous

So I had to stop and take a breath last night but I’m back. Sometimes I just overwhelm myself with my dreadful thoughts. This will be my 135^th post today.

But you all know I’m not wrong. I want to continue down this pathway for a little longer and promise to say something nicer tomorrow.

Author Finn Robinson states that some people have had past encounters where failure led to punishment of some kind, therefore they are ruled by fear. Thus, they feel that they are justified in thinking that others should be punished for their actions. He also stated that these same people aren’t good with taking criticism, even if it is perceived criticism. They have a hard time learning from their past mistakes and feel it is just someone else’s fault. They live in denial, or in the case of seniors, in their version of the past. Unfortunately, the past isn’t always a better time. It’s better to learn from our mistakes and move on to a new way of doing things. For further information see his article:
People who blame everyone else instead of taking responsibility for things share 12 common traits

Arash Emamzadeh authored an interesting article in Psychology Today. He stated that “…blaming others is a defense mechanism [or] an unconscious process that protects the finger-pointer and blame-shifter from experiencing unpleasant feelings, such as guilt or shame.” He further stated that “Blaming is usually considered part of the defense mechanism called projection, which involves denying one’s own anxiety-provoking or negative characteristics and seeing them instead in others.” Finally, he asked: “Are certain individuals more likely to shift blame onto others? Yes, according to a recent series of investigations by Kaufmann and colleagues: Blamers tend to have difficulties with emotion regulation. For further information go to:
Why Some People Will Always Blame Others | Psychology Today

Accountability and responsibility. Author Lachlan Brown takes a step regarding how you can reclaim your life and be who you need to be. You don’t need to blame others if you step up and admit you are accountable for your own behavior. He lists 11 tips to accomplish this. Here are a few:

Stop blaming other people. The most important step to taking responsibility for your life is to stop blaming others.
Stop making excuses.
Ask yourself how other people impact you if you think you are a victim.
Love yourself.
Stop complaining – this takes more energy than just accomplishing what you need to do.

The rest of his tips can be found at: https://hackspirit.com/taking-responsibility/

So, sometimes we get it that you may feel isolated and lonely, and want to have human interaction. However, there are so many places that you can visit to talk to others and resolve what is going on with you. Volunteer to help others so you understand there are bigger issues in the world. And maybe take a breath and count to five the next time you call wanting heads to roll at a government office for something that you could have easily fixed yourself. Enough said….

Love and hugs to those in need tonight! Enjoy the flowers popping up. Enjoy the weather before the storm in your lovely little part of Colorado.

Blame Game or Heads Should Roll!

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

Some of the people in my town are just a little too much these days. They have expectations that our government employees should read their minds and figure out their problems. They become indignant, get mad at the workers because they couldn’t figure out their math with the information that was given to them. And of course, they are frustrated with all government entities in general because of what is currently going on within those higher levels well above the local worker’s pay grade.

First, I just wanted to say that I look at and understand my bills, pay all my bills on time, and changed payment methods to coincide with the changes for paying bills when the rest of the world went digital. I quit writing checks and set up an on-line auto payment that comes directly from my bank. I have lived here for 27 years, and for at least 20 of those years, I have never had a problem paying my bills on time and no one got into my accounts and stole my money. Come on people! It’s time to take responsibility for yourselves and get into this century! And systems are going to change so stop the in my day nonsense.

A customer doesn’t always have to be the squeaky wheel. You can apply the oil yourself if you learn how. Don’t blame others for your incompetence before you attempt to fix it. Sometimes you are wrong and you have to admit that to yourself. Others don’t need to be lectured for your ineptitude. You can’t ask for a manager to fix your problem or have them fire the person who was trying to help you understand that it was your mistake.

Although many workers can read minds and do an excellent job of figuring out your messes, sometimes they just can’t do what you are asking of them. You have to be willing to accept that responsibility and learn how to take care of your problems first. Learn how to fix your mistakes before blaming others or demanding ridiculous discipline to someone who tried to help you!

There are consequences for wanting to be right all the time, even though you really aren’t. So when you call and expect heads to roll because of your mistakes, there are good managers out there that will not let that happen to their employees. You don’t have the right to demand consequences of others not at fault. You should be thankful for those workers who try their best to solve your problems on a daily basis. If you come into the office, these kind people will teach you how to fix the problem before it becomes a problem. They’re really good at their jobs and want to try and help you. Bottom line is, don’t be MEAN!

Enough said….

I send good vibes out to all of our city workers who work hard at their jobs and get grief from customers.

BE KIND

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

It doesn’t take a huge effort to be kind to others. A smile, a thank you, a hug, that’s it. Kindness doesn’t always include dramatic gestures. We can bring meaning and joy to our lives if we just learn to communicate better. Compassion is intoxicating and we all need to take a moment to soak it in and then squeeze it right back out to others.

Hateful people had something break inside them when they were young and may need a little more help in creating a better life for themselves and, as a result, the people they torture. If we can take a moment with those folks who are regurgitating nonsense, perhaps we can change their attitudes. Or, at least, stop being angry with them. After all, they simply cannot help themselves without some type of therapy.

This type of person can be a very loud bully, and their resistance is huge because they are terrified. But you and I know bullies had something happen to them at a young age and had to go into full-time survival mode. And yes, sometimes they just like the power they have been given right now in this era. It is a hard road to help them get back to a state where they care about something other than themselves. It is extremely hard for me to understand the very loud bully who is running our country right now, and I have had my say about all of these people who love him.

But I have to go back to my college days and revisit my psychology classes. I have to try and re-think the anger in myself. I want others to be like me, to always have a positive spin on life, and yet I am saddened that there is so much discord out there right now, and that I get sucked into it at times. I know I contribute to this negative energy and I am trying to break the cycle. I feel for the people who have been hurt by the ridiculous decisions that have been made. I am trying not to become that person who gives up. I have to believe in a new hope for a united nation once again. I have to believe that those in power will see what is happening and keep fighting the good cause. So until I can solve all of the world’s ills (yes, I know how that sounds…) I have to continue to believe that kindness will overcome madness.

So what I am asking of each and every one of you is to try and take a breath before you speak and that weird downward spiral loop nests in your head. Think about helping yourself and others by doing the following:

Stop yelling at people who cut you off or act crazy on the road. Give them that small victory. (You can still mutter under your breath: “You’re an idiot” -thank you Tom Hanks!)
Make eye contact, smile, and say thank you to a coworker or someone you are helping.
Bring laughter to others to break up the day.
Smile and acknowledge people. It is a great mood booster.
Be grateful no matter the challenge.
Don’t be grumpy if possible because you are having a bad day.
Listen and connect.
Be kind to yourself.

There are many more ways to be kind and accept kindness. I recommend you check out this website and just learn to go with the flow.
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-be-a-kind-person

And my final ask of you (and myself) tonight is to show a little kindness to someone in need every day. And take a moment to listen to these great songs and feel the groove:

23 Best Songs About Kindness & Empathy

I love you all tonight.

Rewriting History-Part II

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

“The significance of historical accuracy cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in our ability to discern the truth, make informed decisions, and maintain the integrity of our collective memory.”

In this current administration fact-checking has become a dominant conversation piece for every citizen who is appalled by what is going on in the political scene. Historical events are being distorted and/or outright fabricated at will. This era is rapidly becoming the misinformation age.

We are forgetting about the consequences for spreading outright lies and deleting information that is critical to us. People who believe in what is going on with that guy in office haven’t suffered the consequences yet. They don’t care that we as a country are not preserving the historical truth for ourselves as well as for future generations. They don’t care that the current administration has no understanding of historical events that should be accounted for in the current decision-making process. “Accurate information helps us avoid repeating past mistakes and make informed choices about the future [emphasis mine].”—from https://medium.com/@thehistorychip

And finally, they don’t care that they are not preserving cultural heritage and identity. As a result, there is no critical thinking based on the evaluation of the past.

When misinformation rears its ugly head, the challenges are:
1.         Confirmation bias – people seek and believe information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs. They simply believe the inaccuracies being told to them because of their worldview.
2.         Misleading Narratives – When people in power interpret the past due to their confirmation bias, they skew perceptions of others.
3.         Echo Chambers – “Social media and online communities can reinforce existing beliefs and isolate individuals from diverse perspectives. In such echo chambers, misinformation can thrive unchecked.” [e.g., Fox News]
4.         Digital Manipulation – “Advancements in technology have made it easier to manipulate historical content, including photographs and documents, leading to the creation of convincing but false narratives [emphasis mine].”
Please read this blog for further information. It was an excellent source outlining the problem:
https://medium.com/@thehistorychip/facts-vs-fiction-the-importance-of-historical-accuracy-in-a-misinformation-age-f82c3475a3d9

I want to emphasize how much this bothers me. We are visiting this misinformation age once again 10 years later from the time this article was published: Political Lies: Altering Facts and Rewriting History. On 2/9/15, author Richard A. Barrett reviewed a book by Hannah Arendt, titled Truth and Politics. Arendt stated that “Freedom of opinion is a farce unless factual information is guaranteed and the facts themselves are not in dispute.”

Barrett stated, “In other words, factual truth informs political thought just as rational truth informs philosophical speculation….Such attempts by states to alter history are not the only danger of political lies. Arendt warns that “self-deception is the danger par excellence; the self-deceived deceiver loses all contact with not only his audience, but also the real world, which still will catch up with him, because he can remove his mind from it but not his body” (Lying in Politics).”

Barrett stated that Arendt brought new light to the information given in the Pentagon Papers. He stated that “in her commentary on the Pentagon Papers, Arendt details how little the Administration managed to deceive others about the reality of the Vietnam War but nevertheless managed to deceive itself into believing and basing policy on information it knew was not true. In the end, the free press, which Arendt refers to as the fourth branch of government,” performed its crucial check on government—not by alerting the public to facts hidden from it, most of which were already known but—by forcing the executive to confront those facts, facts it had previously been so successful in deceiving itself about.”

Thus Arendt informs us, “Even if we admit that every generation has the right to write its own history, we admit no more than that it has the right to rearrange the facts in accordance with its own perspective; we don’t admit the right to touch the factual matter itself.”
https://hac.bard.edu/amor-mundi/political-lies-altering-facts-and-rewriting-history-2015-02-09

For further information about our changing facts in history due to the political climate see:
https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/30-years-of-world-politics-what-has-changed/

So, my point in this rather long diatribe is this:
Every day that you are on this planet and in this current realm, combat historical misinformation and uphold historical accuracy. Become a critical thinker and encourage this same thought process in others. Question sources, verify information, and seek many perspectives on any matter. Don’t believe everything. Fact check when you can, but also use your common sense. Ask yourself: “Is this really true?” Why would someone believe this?” “Why should I believe this?”

Educate yourself and others and learn how to look into the media and review the historical data. Share accurate information with others, not just something that people say over and over again. Remember this: “If you say it over and over again, it doesn’t make it true if it’s a lie!” Don’t believe everything you hear. Counteract the spread of ridiculous claims. Believe in humanity once again. We will survive!

I love you all on this windy, weeknight in Colorado! Hang in there!

DO BETTER PEOPLE

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Drusilla Tieben (Dru)

From a posting on David Attenborough’s site re Taylor Swift:

“DO BETTER PEOPLE.”
“Teach your boys to respect women. Teach your girls that as women – they are ALLOWED to take up space.”

“Fix it. Become aware of your words. Because we all have the ability and the obligation to fight for the future of our children with simple moments. And we need to consciously choose to be better for them.”

Enough said for today. Keep fighting the good cause. Don’t be afraid of evil. Stop horrible people from spewing their nonsense every chance you can get. Sending love and respect to everyone who shows love, not hate.