Social Media Blues

With all the noise surrounding the federal election called for October 21 I decided to log out of all my social media accounts until October 22. I did that a few days ago.
What do I hope to accomplish in doing this?
Pay attention to policy and put personality politics aside.
It's important to open ourselves up to all the policy options of the different players when we vote. It's important not to allow the algorithms of social media giants to sway us toward our biases and comfortable preferences.
There are difficult choices and decisions to make. Long term benefits will mean short term discomfort when we vote in this election. Echo chambers created for us within Twitter, Facebook, and Google are not in our best interest. We have to push ourselves outside our comfort zone if we want to learn anything.
Confirmation bias is real. It's a big deal. It lives on social media.
We need to get to know our local candidates and how they want to represent us. We need to know what their priorities are and if they align with our own values and aspirations for our future. Especially our children's future.
Voting isn't simple. I have no intention of allowing my vote to be influenced by comfortable messaging in this election.

Done Like Dinner

This past few months every trip has been a huge mental challenge. It's about fatigue. Burnout. Maybe just aging and the fact I run on too little sleep that doesn't come to me at the same time every day.
My granddaughter has this huge soft spot for me. Every time she sees me she just hugs me for several minutes. It's a deep, unconditional love she exudes, and it sticks to me, a constant reminder that the days I'm away from my family I can never get back.
Fatigue and a deep constant longing for those you love. What a volatile combination.
When I contrast those feelings against the work that's causing the fatigue and seperation I find I still love what I do almost as much.
Poor me. Life is pretty fucking difficult at times isn't it?