What Do You Do To Escape?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
April 27, 2008 12:59am CST
Unless you've been living in a cave all these years and especially recently, you know that the world well, just ain't so great to put it mildly. It almost seems like things are really spinning out of control at a dizzying pace and makes one wonder if things can ever get back to some form of normalcy again.
The cost of living is out of control first of all. Unless you're fabulously wealthy, zooming around a luxury Jaguar car, flying on your private Lear Jet, living in a multi-million dollar estate (fully paid by the way)..uh, in other words, unless you're someone like Donald Trump living with any kind of finesse is getting harder to do. Most of us "normal" people live from check to check, we pay our bills that are also getting higher, our food costs are getting out of hand as prices of foods get higher--even for simple basics like milk, eggs, bread..you know..the basic staples. I even hear how folks here at MyLot can't always afford driving their cars the way they used to because of the ridiculous fuel costs.
Then we hear of the world's affairs...riots in Haiti due to food shortages, some countries beginning to ration out just how much food can be bought, such as bags of rice since some may be trying to "hoard" food items...not so much due to shortages of food, but simply because it's now too expensive and they may be trying to hoard food at lower prices before they go up even more..this in part a lot to do with rising fuel costs and the expense of transporting food.
We hear of global warming, wars, killings and on and on it goes. We are submerged in all this dire negative news that comes to us on our TV...
Now I'm not a big news fan, believe it or not....I don't really watch that much...the news is pretty depressing as it is without watching it nearly round the clock and lets face it, some people do...yes, I want to be informed by what is going on yet I don't want to be inundated by it.
Anyway...just what the heck do you do to escape all this negativity that is going on in the world?
While it may sound really insanely dumb....is it any wonder why I'm drawn to say fantasy type movies or read books of that genre??...or even watch kiddie movies? Even my stories that I write are predominantly fantasy types, as it allows me to stretch my imagination and get lost in a different and more pleasant time or world--to quite frankly escape the madness that surrounds us.
So..what do you do to escape from listening to all the crap that is going on in our time and world?
18 people like this
36 responses
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
27 Apr 08
I don't try to escape it... because that is the worse thing you can possibly do. I try to use myLot to inform people about it... so that we can all get together and try to fix those problems.
But most people call me negative... and tell me that GOD will fix it all when Jesus comes back to Earth.
Like we say in Australia... most people are ostriches. They bury their head in the sand so as not to see what is happening. Ignorance is bliss.
I was just answering a question about how many people still hang their washing on the clothe line. And it would seem that the majority of people use a clothe dryer these days and don't remember what a clothe line looks like.
Not only do we have an energy crisis... but we know that producing electricity through coal power stations is the biggest contributor of pollution and climate change.
While people talk of switching to light energy saver bulbs... just think how much electricity we could save by simply hanging our washing on the clothe line.
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
27 Apr 08
I understand what you meant by escapism.
But I am not losing any sleep over the world problems. I have enough to worry about with my own problems.
I don't have a dishwasher either. But I could not live without my washing machine. I was without one for 18 months... and that sucks big time. lol
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 08
First let me address desireeo --although what I say here can go for you too Aussie
Desireeo--you'll see my response to your reply as you missed what I was saying and gave a different meaning to what I mean by "escaping"
I'm very much an activist in many ways...I'm involved with a lot of issues concerning world affairs such as environmental issues...I'm not implying that I'm a person who tries to ignore the world's problems and hides my head in the sand wishing it'll go away by magic...I'm NOT saying this...but we can't all be activist 24 hours a day...To keep one's sanity I think it's important to have the ability to escape and just for a little while forget everything--for me that is watching fantasy or kiddie movies reading books of the same genre and even writing my own fantasy stories
Oh..and Aussie...I don't even have a washer or dryer...I wash things by hand to save money and hang things to dry on...yup clothes lines in my bathroom--heck don't even have a dishwasher...I'm the dishwasher..hehe
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Mostly..I only give myself a certain part of every day to get informed, blog about it, and then I try to focus on taking care of my life. Chores, friends, family, etc.
But my escape has always been writing books. Lately I've been playing some games as well.
Now, I keep a VERY close eye on the news. Whilst I don't always turn the tv on to watch it, I scour the web for it. I watch youtube channels by people who tivo the most important news everyday..and I've been doing that for nearly two years now. And I think I've sorta...gained a resistance to how depressing it is.
I feel this big compulsion every day, I HAVE to know what's going on...and it's serious enough my obsessiveness may just be strangely justified lol.
I love writing, I always have. Even if all else is horrible or my dreams are failed, I've always had my writing to turn to.
That and games help me relieve stress.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Writing is one of my great escapes too --I love reading as well, but isn't it great how one can create a whole "world" through writing? And it all comes from one's imagination!
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I love reading too -- creating a whole world, or worlds as is sometimes the case.. is one of the most amazing feelings I think.
It's also a great way to relieve any stress, because you can pass off whatever's going on in your head to the writing...and turn that energy or lack thereof into something completely different. It's very theraputic I think =)
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Great question! Everything you pointed out is true ~ and it's sad! It's a crazy world we are living in.
I find myself always in a rush-- it's like we need more hours in every day--- but it hasn't always been like this- I long for the days of peace and relaxation again. I try to keep an open schedule most weekends-- so that I'm able to do the things that just pop up-- or take the time to relax. Doesn't always happen.
I'm fortunate enough to not live check to check- I'm not rich by any means-- Just a middle income family with a savings account and not living beyond my means. It gets harder each week though- with the prices of almost everything rising- and no pay increases. We just change the budget around- use more coupons - shop in different stores, etc.
For me to escape- I stay away from the news as much as I can. I watch sports and watch that news. : ) Sure I always know what is going on in the world- I read the paper daily--- but it's not my life-
I help out others that need help- this makes me feel good and more fortunate also.
I make sure that each week my family has fun things planned- we spend time with our other family (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins) and with friends : )
Myself- I read a lot at night--- Stressful nights- I read romance and adventure books- to take me to another place.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
To quote you..."I find myself always in a rush-- it's like we need more hours in every day--- but it hasn't always been like this- I long for the days of peace and relaxation again.." Oh boy can I ever identify with this. Looking back to my college days it seemed even though I was doing a million things, I still had time to goof off and have fun...now? Nope..need at least 60 hours a day to do what I want to do. Since I am on SSI benefits I just barely squeak by and try to earn extra money (uh,off the books) just to survive
You're like me...I love to stretch out in bed and read a lot before I go to sleep...while you like romance or adventure..I'm a fantasy person...it's my way of escaping
@desireeo (595)
• Philippines
27 Apr 08
the question is not how do you escape but how do you make this world a better place to live in. escaping ends in us. it's ok to try that when it's only ourselves we're thinking about. but, what about our children? they too have to go through this and they're the ones that get most affected coz they still have a long way to go. a lot of things that are happening today happened because of our negligence and irresponsible deeds. if we take a good look of the way we live can we truly say we are not affecting the ecosystem in a bad way? instead of daydreaming of some place that resembles paradise i think we better get real and act! do something that might help ease up our situation. we don't have to look far. i bet there's something that's ought to be changed in your neighborhood.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Apr 08
I think maybe you're missing my points and ideas just a bit here.
I'm not trying to suggest that by "escaping" we forget the problems that are going around the world and not do anything or try to come up with problems that our world is facing
...Since you don't know me well, and perhaps haven't read many of my other discussions, you've missed the concepts that I'm very much an activist both from an ecological/environmental viewpoint, to animal and human rights and so forth. In fact I just did a discussion about our usage of too much plastic items that is harming our environment.
I'm very much a realist and realistic person who is all too aware of what is going on...my point was however is that we ALL need some time off and escape from these problems and concerns of the world even if just for a few minutes a day...we can't all be activist 24 hours a day after all
1 person likes this
@desireeo (595)
• Philippines
2 May 08
i see your point. maybe, i got too carried away. it's not just your post i was trying to respond. i was just sending a message to everybody that there's no way we can always get away with all these unless we have to address what's going on. anyway, i should just have concentrated in what you have asked us for. you're right. i don't know you at all and i haven't read any of your other discussions. i didn't know you're an active environment crusader. well, this certain discussion of yours came off as something like you just wanna have fun while the rest of the world rots. ok, maybe that's too harsh but it did sound something like that. anyway, i'm all with having fun and forget the world's problem for a while. to tell you the truth i don't even segregate my trash. i just lessen my use of plastic bags and reuse some that i got. like aussie, i don't lose sleep over global warming but i do care enough to do my part. peace!
1 person likes this
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Music is and pretty much always has been my main escape. Reading was my escape once upon a time (also fantasy type stuff), but once I started working in a field where I spend most of my days reading, it lost a lot of appeal, sadly.
So yeah, my iPod is a nearly constant companion, and listening to music definitely lets me tune out a lot of the craziness that I don't want to deal with.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I love music too, but I think my best means of escaping is to read or watch movies (mainly fantasies)
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
27 Apr 08
Hi pyewacket! You have perfectly described how beautiful our world is! 
Just joking! I do escape all this crap by watching children's movies too. I dream and fantasize and I do get lost in that fantasy world I spin and spin until sometimes I fall asleep. Just my thoughts dear friend. Take care and have a nice day!
Just joking! I do escape all this crap by watching children's movies too. I dream and fantasize and I do get lost in that fantasy world I spin and spin until sometimes I fall asleep. Just my thoughts dear friend. Take care and have a nice day!@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Yes children's movies are a wonderful way to escape...have you ever watched the 2003 version of Peter Pan...my favorite!
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
27 Apr 08
I read, write or just take some quiet moments to myself. That in itself is pretty hard because people just don't want to leave me alone which can get annoying. I also watch tv. I love cartoons. Some people probably find me watching cartoons at 21 strange, but they are really a great stress reliever. And, I'm going to be working with children for the rest of my life so it looks like I need to get used to them and know what's going on in the world of cartoons.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Hey I'm 52 and I still watch cartoons...LOL--I LOVE watching cartoons...perhaps a nostalgia thing? To keep the kid inside but also to remember childhood times that were so hectic?
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
28 Apr 08
if they call you strange for watching cartoons at 21, then what will you call someone at the age of 27 or 45?
i dont think it is strange at all.
i love to keep the kid in me no matter how much i age. being a kid at heart is a wonderful thing and i feel it is great that you are keeping it.
takecare!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85992)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Reading and TV are a way for me to escape, and mylot sometimes helps me as well. I like to watch shows that are enlightening, as well as entertaining. Sure I have plain old fun watching things like Top Chef, but I love to learn about new things. But when it gets right down to it, I escape by praying. God is my peace in the middle of the storm. Sometimes I don't succeed in my attempt to retain a peaceful spirit, but I always feel better when I remember there is a place beyond earth that will make living here worth it.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
I think one of the things I need to get back into doing is some serious meditation type of thing...even if just for a few moments to just still my mind and block everything out for awhile. Now a lot of people here know me as just a tad bit of an animal activist and campaigner for animal rights...but even I have to step back a bit from that from time to time...I used to belong to a lot of pet rescue groups but since stopped...the alert messages were so friggin depressing about all the pets that were going to be killed off due to lack of room in the shelters...not that I'm not caring...I'm caring too much I think and would really get to me
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Easy...don't watch any news on tv or listen to it on the radio, don't read those type of articles in the paper or online.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
29 Apr 08
That's why I don't listen or read about the news offline. I have you to keep me updated here in mylot.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 08
Oh yeah?? to you too...just kidding.
actually lots of times the only reason I do turn the news on is I keep an ear out for the more positive stories and guess what, many wind up as topics for my discussions here
to you too...just kidding.
actually lots of times the only reason I do turn the news on is I keep an ear out for the more positive stories and guess what, many wind up as topics for my discussions here@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 08
Hmmm....just call me the MyLot reporter for inquiring minds...hehee
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Hi pye....
What do we do to escape from listening to all the crap that is going on in our time and world?
It might sound like we are poking our head in the sand, but that's not really the case. So much of what is going on (in the media), we feel, is literally scaring people out of their wits. While we are aware of these issues, there is in all honesty, little we can do to prevent them or change them.
For instance, we find suddenly, everyone wants to be 'green'. I'm sure you and thousands more have been living 'green' since, well, since the late 60s and early 70s. It's not something new for us. It just has a new 'green' name. While the cost of living (food,gas,housing, etc.,) is rising, it's been doing so at an alarming rate for years. We have learned to adjust our budget to meet the costs. Still, we live better than most (because of our financial savy) and just being aware of the things that are going on. Crime rate up, crimes being perpetrated by younger and younger kids with little to no respect is only a sign of how these kids are raised and treated. We, while being aware of the issues, decided long ago not to watch the news or listen too intently. With so much negativism being thrown at us all of the time, there's no way we can completely avoid it, but we have made the choice just not to watch it on television. We find there's more times than not that we sit outside and watch the beauty that surrounds us, or, we tune in to something uplifting and positive, even if it's an old movie we've seen a hundred times. It's better than watching the horrible state of things and feeling like we can't do anything about it. We listen to music a lot more these days and we even find we have more one-on-one conversation with each other.
We try to enjoy our small space on this planet and (in a sense) tune the rest of the world out of focus a bit, still remaining aware of our surroundings.
It's better that way, than being afraid and upset with the world and what's going on. We're just hoping we can find the positive side of things for what time we have left and hope we don't get bogged down with hate and discontent like so many folks are finding themselves doing.
Keep your chin up pye......
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Thanks for the BR. It's the 'silly' things that keep us sane.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
As you can see I just loved your response. I listen to the news with maybe half an ear..it's really repetitive of the same negative garbage all the time. while I do have the concerns of the world I' not of it so to speak, that is I don't let it bog me down, cause if I did I be really depressed. Now my neighbor is a news junkie and really she's the most depressive person you'd ever want to meet...gee, wonder why. As far as trying to make a change...I try to do that in any way I can, usually by voicing my opinions on a political level and do often write to politicians about certain issues...since I AM an American that is supposed to be my right to do so..and while I'm an activist in many issues, I'm just not an activist 24 hours a day....that's why I do "escape" and partake in "silly" things or grab my camera, go out and photograph the beauty of nature that is around us...it keeps me sanely grounded
1 person likes this
@paid2write (5201)
•
27 Apr 08
I think books and movies are a good way to get way to escape from all the problems in the world. I like to read and watch things which take me to a different time or place. I also want to stay informed about world events and it can seem very disheartening but a good story will show the truth, even if it is fantasy based, about the human spirit. There are lessons to be learned from stories about individuals who can make a difference and who don't let the forces of evil triumph in the end.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Another good genre of books to read are true life stories of people who have conquered a lot of setbacks and despite the odds became successful...they can inspire one at times and make one feel good
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
28 Apr 08
Well i play with my grandkids and read alot..also watch movies with the kids too..we just watched the Tinman that came out on DVD..very good and worth watching if you haven't. I plant and take care of my gardens..keeps me from thinking about what may make me upset.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Yes it is on DVD but I just haven't had the funds to buy it...I often buy DVDs movies sight unseen if the trailers had looked great
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
No I've never seen Tinman...I'm dying to see The Last Mimzy...missed out when it was in the theatres--have you seen that one?
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
30 Apr 08
Yes we saw the Last Mimsy also..Isn't that out on dvd yet? Its good!
1 person likes this
@qdietz (244)
• United States
27 Apr 08
I personally love to go surfing. Out in the water it is a different world, you are far from society and your attention to the water and not to the outside world is crucial. This surfing necessitates concentration and really moves my mind away from everything else but the coming wave.
Another thing I like to do is juggle while listening to music. Juggling is one of those hobbies that require full concentration or else you will juggle badly. When I got through bad times I like to grab the balls and start juggling as it takes my mind off of the problem on hand.
Another way many people get away is online gaming. People immerse themselves in a fantasy world, where they can become what they want to be, realizing their dreams.
Some people read, when I was reading Harry Potter I yearned to go into the fantasy world the character lived in, with all the magic around.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Yes there is a wonderful serenity to the water. And yes, you really hit a spot there with me about reading Harry Potter....I wouldn't mind being at Hogwarts at times! Of course there was quite a lot of darkness involved especially in the later books--I actually found all the "deaths" in the books depressig.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
Mmmmm...that kind of reminds me...maybe I should watch more cartoons...I'm a Tom and Jerry fan...LOL
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Well, every now and then I need to "get off the planet". Everyone knows what I mean by that so if I just tell one of my friends and/or my husband, they know it's time for me to escape and head to Atlantic City. I spend the weekend (if I've got enough cash or a day if we're kinda tight) just gambling and pretending I don't have a care in the world. For me, that's very refreshing!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
That kind of reminds me of that phrase.."Stop the world, I wanna get off" LOL...Are you ever lucky in Atlantic City??...
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
28 Apr 08
That's probably how all this started, I do remember that phrase now that I see it again!
Sometimes I break even in AC, sometimes I bring a little more home than I took with me, but mostly it's just a good time. I don't go to win, I go to have fun. It's entertainment value only for me, and I just take as much money as I know I'm not coming home with.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
27 Apr 08
Like you I'm not a big fan of the news, mainly because I find it so depressing. All they seem to report is negativity and lately the reporters all seemed to be a bit biased on their view points. They are of course trying to gain viewers by showing certain types of stories that grab people's attention but for me I end up turning away. Still even though I don't watch a lot of the news events of every day still effect me and I do hear about a great deal that happens in our world.
There are many things I do to help escape and just try to feel better about things. One is reading and another is watching movies. I can escape into those story lines. Whether they are a romance, fantasy or even a crime story, because usually in them the bad guys are caught, the girl gets the boy, and the good side prevails. They make you feel that not all hope is lost and that the good things can still happen.
One of the other things I do is go on the computer. I do my on-line earning but I do so much more. I'm involved in web site competitions so I get to see what others do with their sites and often these too reflect good times, hope, their families, etc. I also do RPG's. Now I do email form, which is kind of like writing a book with others. You type out what your character does and how they respond to others and then the other players do like wise. You never know where it might go and it's a lot of fun. It can really help me "escape" and not worry about what might happen next in my life.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 08
I think watching movies or reading books, especially fantasy type ones are the best ways to escape.....some fantasies aren't all rosy though...do you know I got a bit depressed with the last few Harry Potter books...yikes too many deaths of too many great characters.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
29 Apr 08
Hi ptewacket, I agree that things have gotten pretty bad recently, with the cost of living skyrocketing and so forth, but is it as bad as we think, or is it that we hear more about it? You speak about wars and killings, but that has been happening for thousands of years. There are many people going hungry in the world today, but probably less than there were seventy years ago. The world is fast becoming a global village, and we know what's happening all over the world. That was not the case in the early twentieth century. While I agree that we need to escape from it sometimes, for the sake of sanity, we also are in a better position to do something about it than at any time in our history. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Apr 08
You drive home a good point. Wars, killings, people starving, riots and the like have been around for eons...while it's great that because of technology and the news media we can know what is happening in the global community, maybe we don't really NEED to know everything if you get my meaning
@littleowl (7157)
•
27 Apr 08
Hi Pye-for me I hard to escape except when watching certain series I like,taking the dogs out for a long walk and see friends who make me laugh I also am a medium and go to a spiritulist church that takes away all the negativity from everything whilst being there--the one thing like you i do is not watch the news only now and then all it is is gloom and doom who wants to know about that?-bright blessings littleowl
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Apr 08
Yes it's rare that one hears of positive uplifting stories...in fact even when I do watch the news I kind of tune it out and half listen..then wow, if a great positive story comes on, my full attention is at it--and that sometimes winds up as one of my discussions that I start..LOL
@littleowl (7157)
•
3 May 08
Hi Pye you are right about picking up things you can write about from the news that is one good thing that comes out of it!
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
6 May 08
Hi Pye..
I read alot,play with grandbabies and work..if i have some free time i like planting in my gardens..nothing like getting my hands into the earth getting dirty and seeing the start of something new to come..this takes me away from the world and all its troubles..now you were saying??? LOL
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 May 08
I think actually the only way I escape is either popping in one of my fantasy movies or read...I'm hoping one day that I can own a place with a garden area...I would just love puttering around the soil and watching things grow. Uh, what? What were you saying??? hehe
