Taking a title from a Beatles’ hit song, and remembering a line from a Hollies’ hit, “The road is long, with many a-winding turn, that leads us to who knows where…,” we certainly can ponder those and say that title and lyric, both, are pinpoint characteristics of life.

Life’s a journey. Sadly, some people’s journeys are shorter than others maybe because of tragedy, illness, accident, violence, or some other malady that snuffs a life, but long or short, our journey is traveled on roads accompanied by twists, turns, peaks, valleys, potholes, pitfalls, bumps, bruises, aches, and pains.

Don’t get me wrong — there’s joy, laughter, and elation in many people’s lives, but life isn’t easy much of the time. To get around the twists and turns, to be able to trek the peaks and valleys, to avoid potholes and pitfalls, and soothe the bumps, bruises, aches, and pains, you’ve got to want it badly, but regardless, sometimes life brings us down.

We deal with much in life. Not all of it’s good. It’s like watching the news or reading a newspaper.

Often, headlines or top stories cover not so good news. Yes, there are success and feel-good stories, but it seems like there are too many stories about tragedy, trials, tribulations, that take away much of the shine of those good things reported/printed/read.

Sometimes, we seem to be stuck focusing on the bad “news” in our lives, things we consider unfair breaks life is dealing us at certain times, and sometimes we’re hearing/reading/watching what could often drive us to discouragement and disappointment.

Recently, I’ve been in a mental “Helter Skelter.” I’ve had a great life, one that’s offered me many opportunities, many of those I’ve taken advantage of, and enjoyed very much.

But, there’s much conflict surrounding us that sometimes gets me down. Other times, I’m wondering if I’ve given life, as much as life’s given me. Have I done for others, what others have done for me? Have I made much of a difference in my lifetime? A lyric from a Jimmy Buffett song I enjoy sings, “I’m just hanging on while this old world keeps spinning, and it’s good to know it’s out of my control. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from all this livin’, it’s that it wouldn’t change a thing if I let go.”

I selfishly want to believe it would change things if I let go, because that would mean I’d be giving up, or I ‘d be tired of accepting new challenges, or staying in the arena, or working hard at everything I put on my plate. But still, right now, my heart is hurting.

Lately, I look at myself and see a grumpy old man. (I know, many think I’m that all the time.) There are reasons I’m feeling this way.

The list starts with COVID, then the weather, desperately missing my family, and my wonderment if baseball is going to start on time, or if the feud between the overly rich, and the other overly rich will steal enjoyment from people who probably can’t afford baseball tickets, but need to, at least, watch it on their television sets.

Next, I’m sickened by the state of politics, especially in our nation’s capital.

I can’t stand that there’s violence, senseless shootings, disease, depression, addiction, and unbalanced opportunities and financial “perks” of a small percentage of people in this country which come at the expense of those who work hard, and those who have little, both groups ending up covering the costs of those perks.

I have problems with many situations where people want to negotiate every aspect of everything they’re asked to do, or try to hide behind one (more?) of our country’s constitutional amendments to fit their agenda, but never seem to see, or if they do, to respect, the other side’s point of view.

I’m tired of the lack of respect for people, for offices people hold, whether we like those holding them, or not. I think social media is one of the worst things that’s happened to this country. It’s become a venue to disrespect others, to call names like children on playgrounds, which many who do it, probably taught their children, not to call others names. It’s another place where people trash others because of politics, sports team’s allegiances, intolerance to life choices, or lifestyles. It’s become an arena for people’s judgement, criticism, and slamming others for anything with which they disagree. I don’t tweet, but Twitter is the same except you get fewer words to insult people.

So explains my “Helter Skelter” feelings right now.

So, you can say, I’m down right now, and I’m venting today. We have many “cuts and scrapes” in our world today, but if we live together, work together, and respect each other we might be able to bandage them, and navigate this long and winding road with its many a-winding turn, getting us back to those places that we DO know where.

Thanks for listening!