Life in Uncertain Times
- sharmondavidson
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
28 February, 2026
Life in Uncertain Times
My original title for this post was "Life in Bizarro World". I thought better of it and decided to go with "Life in Uncertain Times" as sounding, perhaps, more acceptable to readers. However, 'Bizarro World' seems pretty accurate, to be honest. Our friendly Google AI helper summarizes it like this:
"Bizarro World" refers to a fictional, cube-shaped planet (often called Htrae, which is "Earth" spelled backward) appearing in DC Comics, where everything is a twisted, reversed, or opposite version of reality. In popular culture, the term is used to describe a situation, place, or set of circumstances that is absurd, chaotic, or logically inverted, where "up" is "down," "good" is "bad," and logic does not apply."
Speechless
To confirm that we're living in Bizarro World, all you need to do is turn on your TV, or look at social media for more than a few seconds. Our democracy is being dissolved, battered, and twisted into something we don't recognize.
A criminal, amoral, and incompetant president has torn down and defunded nearly every aspect of the government that was designed to sustain and protect American citizens. He and his horrendously unqualified appointees have subverted the system of checks and balances that is delineated in our Constitution, trashed our Justice system, and ignored the rule of law.
Every single day, without fail, he commits new atrocities; the recent murders of innocent citizens by ICE agents have shocked and horrified us. Watching the news gives me panic attacks. This is why I haven't written a post in almost three months. Every time I sit down to write, I feel so overwhelmed that don't even know where to start. It's like opening your mouth to talk, but nothing comes out. I have been rendered speechless.
Silver Linings
Using Time Wisely
In these enormously challenging times, I
find it very difficult not to allow people or
events to control my emotions. In addition to all the afore-mentioned craziness, it has been a much colder than normal winter, so cold than I didn't venture outside for long stretches of time. I was able to (kind of) find a silver lining in that, though. I took advantage of the time indoors to focus on my art, spending many days hunkered down in my studio, painting. Here is a piece I just finished:
And also this:
And more in progress:
3 early work-in-progess shots of my current painting
Reason for Hope
And then, just when you feel there's no hope, there is this:
And this:
My dear friend Donna Iona Drozda, a wonderful multi-talented artist and inspirational teacher, sent me this handmade card commemorating the Walk for Peace and the teachings of Bhikkhu Paññakāra. It arrived on the same day that the walk ended in Washington, DC. I can't tell you how much it lifted my spirits, knowing that someone cared enough to do this. I treasure the card and will keep it always.
Watching the progress of the monks on their walk across the country, I was amazed and greatly heartened by the people who who came out to see them and recieve their blessings, give them gifts and food, and offer their gratitude and encouragement. It made me dare to believe that most people do want peace; indeed, many are starved for it. Many people are kind, contrary to what we witness in politics. Maybe, just maybe, our democracy will survive.
“The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know...Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough.”
― John Adams, The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
Wishing you all peace, love, and art.
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