How do you stay inspired during uninspiring times?

[PrettySquareGal]

This is directed at those of you who find contemporary culture to be reprehensible due to many things already discussed on the FL such as decline of manners, shoddy merchandise, crummy customer service, bad economy, lack of style, pajamas in public, "reality TV", etc etc.

What keeps you inspired? How to do you navigate 2012 while staying true to the vintage values that are important to you? Do you find it exhausting?

 

[AmateisGal]

I have to take breaks. If I read too much news or political commentary or COMMENTS on any of said stories, I almost have a meltdown. So I retreat to my beloved home, immerse myself in magazines or movies or books from the Golden Era, and escape for awhile. Yes, I will escape from ALL reality - i.e. today's reality and yesterday's reality, and I will stick my head in the sand for awhile. I admit it. But after a few days or a week or so, I feel like I can face it all again.

 

[Godfrey]

I ended up with my great grandfathers copies of Punch magazine. He'd had the years 1912 - 1914 bound so in very good nick. The magazine was monthly so basically once a month I read the news and opinion of 100 years ago like it was today. It's great to read about things such as the Titannic like its yesterday's news or see a cartoon about those mad motorists - makes me feel better about the triviality in today's media.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Frankly, I have as little contact with modern culture as I can possibly manage. I read the newspaper, but that's the extent of my involvement with the current scene -- I absolutely refuse to watch any TV/cable news, and I don't read news blogs or discussion boards, because they make me very very very angry, to the point of throwing things. (I come from a long line of harridans, fishwives, and other bad tempered women.)

There are other things that set me off, though, and it's almost impossible to avoid them. I walked into the grocery store the other day and the first thing that hit me in the face was a lurid magazine cover screaming GET A BIKINI BEACH BELLY NOW! Well, I don't have the slightest interest in getting a bikini beach belly now, and I resent having such demands shoved in my face. I was fuming about that for the rest of the day, but what can you do? I went home, sat on the porch with my cat and a book and listened to the radio the rest of the afternoon until the rage subsided.

And yes, I do find it exhausting. I get migraines regularly from the stress, and one of these days I'm going to pop an artery or something. But what can you do?

Work is one thing that helps. I work three jobs and am so immersed in them that it distracts me as much as possible from the rest of it. I keep telling myself there's people at work depending on me, my cat depends on me, and no matter what I've got to keep going.

 

[Swing Motorman]

I love your idea for a thread, and I do think about this rather often. I stick to vintage clothing and a general neat/sharp appearance because I find it motivating. It's far harder to lounge around in a suit and tie than in casual wear, and not just because lying down in a tie is a tad uncomfortable! I'm dressed nicely today, my one day off from work this week, just so I can get more cleaning and organizing done at home. It's worked; I've never cleaned a neglected e-mail inbox so quickly as in a favorite fedora, vest, and tie, as seen below. I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten as much done in a T-shirt and jeans.

At work (a scenic railway) I find even more place to let the vintage values inside me out, and even expose others to them. In the spirit of hard work and knowing one's trade well, I worked extra hard to learn the route I conduct over, and its history for giving informative talks and relating everything back to our lives today. Another thing I find vital to a vintage personality is having the strength to take responsibility for yourself (unlike our lawsuit-happy blame culture of today). So, between knowing my route and believing in personal responsibility, I won't yell at a passenger if they lean out of the train a bit in a place I know they're safe. I tell them not to in the areas I know are risky, and I caution them to pay attention to trees and such. But I let them have their fun, and I don't believe in compromising the fun atmosphere of my trains out of fear of someone suing someday. I caution and control everyone enough to make passenger injury risk negligible, and I extend the legalistic, anything-in-the-name-of-security work ethic no further than that.

More than those, though, I try to exude optimism, willingness to be a hardworking small cog in a bigger machine, love of vintage culture, and all-around respect everywhere. The more modern standards decline, the more I feel challenged (and motivated) to stand strong and be myself. At the end of the day, the possibility that I made someone else look at the good things of the past and see their value makes up for not fitting in with the world today.


-Steven

 

[C-dot]

More than those, though, I try to exude optimism, willingness to be a hardworking small cog in a bigger machine, love of vintage culture, and all-around respect everywhere. The more modern standards decline, the more I feel challenged (and motivated) to stand strong and be myself. At the end of the day, the possibility that I made someone else look at the good things of the past and see their value makes up for not fitting in with the world today.

Good for you! It's very inspiring to read the healthy optimism of a fellow enthusiast. I'm glad the modern world isn't keeping you down.

Me, I am prone to becoming overwhelmed and need to take breaks from modern life (in the same vein as AmateisGal). I find tremendous comfort in coming home and doing various things like listening to Woody Herman, watching a frothy Doris Day comedy, reading a vintage sewing book, or even just coming on here and shooting the breeze with like minds.

When I'm really feeling bent out of shape - usually after watching the news or reading the paper, or, hell, even walking down the street - I find that losing myself in someone else's life helps. That's why I read a lot of old Hollywood biographies.

 

[Gin&Tonics]

One of my favourite escapes is to read The Complete Sherlock Holmes or to watch the excellent Granada Holmes series with Jeremy Brett, of which I have all the episodes on my computer.

I avoid reading or watching the news because frankly modern media is horrendously inaccurate anyways, so why bother?

 

[John in Covina]

I find that taking some time to watch a good engrossing movie will help get my mind off of problems.

Reading something that I am interested in can help me out.

Getting a chance to drink a few top notch beers and chatting with friends can help.

As a final item to try to remember that where ever I am and what ever is happening - chances are I am exactly where God wants me to be at that time.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I like watching vintage beauty gurus on youtube and following them on Facebook. I keep my vintage inspiration from a very modern device. Sewing my own clothing keeps me inspired, too. I also like to read old magazines to immerse myself in the era I love. Old movies, too, along with the myriad of pre-WW2 music and OTR shows in my MP3 player. Listening to them really puts me in a completely different state of mind.

As for it being tiring -- absolutely not. This is me and I don't know any other way.

 

[rue]

I stopped watching TV about 2 years ago, so unless I read it in the paper, hear it from my mom or read it on here, I don't really have to deal with the "real world" at home. As far as going out to shop or eat etc.... I usually just have a good laugh with friends about the weirdness around me or the strange comments I get about the way I dress or live. I've made some good friends since moving here that seem to understand my views and then of course we Loungers have each other so I can vent here. If all else fails, I pour myself a stiff drink when it's a really bad day

Being happy with the way I am keeps me inspired and although it can get exhausting trying to explain to my family and to strangers why I do what I do, to me it's worth it

 

[AmateisGal]

I love your idea for a thread, and I do think about this rather often. I stick to vintage clothing and a general neat/sharp appearance because I find it motivating. It's far harder to lounge around in a suit and tie than in casual wear, and not just because lying down in a tie is a tad uncomfortable! I'm dressed nicely today, my one day off from work this week, just so I can get more cleaning and organizing done at home. It's worked; I've never cleaned a neglected e-mail inbox so quickly as in a favorite fedora, vest, and tie, as seen below. I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten as much done in a T-shirt and jeans.

At work (a scenic railway) I find even more place to let the vintage values inside me out, and even expose others to them. In the spirit of hard work and knowing one's trade well, I worked extra hard to learn the route I conduct over, and its history for giving informative talks and relating everything back to our lives today. Another thing I find vital to a vintage personality is having the strength to take responsibility for yourself (unlike our lawsuit-happy blame culture of today). So, between knowing my route and believing in personal responsibility, I won't yell at a passenger if they lean out of the train a bit in a place I know they're safe. I tell them not to in the areas I know are risky, and I caution them to pay attention to trees and such. But I let them have their fun, and I don't believe in compromising the fun atmosphere of my trains out of fear of someone suing someday. I caution and control everyone enough to make passenger injury risk negligible, and I extend the legalistic, anything-in-the-name-of-security work ethic no further than that.

More than those, though, I try to exude optimism, willingness to be a hardworking small cog in a bigger machine, love of vintage culture, and all-around respect everywhere. The more modern standards decline, the more I feel challenged (and motivated) to stand strong and be myself. At the end of the day, the possibility that I made someone else look at the good things of the past and see their value makes up for not fitting in with the world today.


-Steven

Steven, I applaud you. You, sir, are a gentleman of the finest order. :eusa_clap

 

[Swing Motorman]

I am humbled, Miss Melissa! Thank you. I'm just thankful for all the great thinking that this topic has provoked. It even led me to write a lengthy blog post. I hope some of what I've written here contributes to the discussion in this thread: http://rumbling-rails.blogspot.com/2012/06/drawing-inspiration-from-past.html

I agree with Lizzie, Rue, and Gin&Tonics about TV being a big drag-- I never got into watching it, and credit some of my general happiness to that. Modern TV news is such a drag in so many ways... that and other trashy shows are something I don't miss about living the vintage-y life.

<humor>One thing I do miss, though, is meeting girls my age who understand and appreciate the same things I've been writing about today. Anybody know of any near northern PA?</humor> But seriously, some isolation from my peers is not too high a price to pay for motivation, values, and a good boost towards achieving general happiness in life. I truly wish the same good feelings on everyone here in the Lounge.


-Steven

 

[DNO]

I certainly try not to take the world that seriously. A smile and a laugh goes a very long way to take the edge off. If all else fails, like Melissa, my home acts to insulate me and provide some balance. It's full of art...paintings, prints, sculpture (no reproductions)...and books, and pieces of history. It's a great place to be.

 

[Miss Stella]

I have to take breaks. If I read too much news or political commentary or COMMENTS on any of said stories, I almost have a meltdown. So I retreat to my beloved home, immerse myself in magazines or movies or books from the Golden Era, and escape for awhile. Yes, I will escape from ALL reality - i.e. today's reality and yesterday's reality, and I will stick my head in the sand for awhile. I admit it. But after a few days or a week or so, I feel like I can face it all again.

I agree other then I keep my head in the sand and live in my happy little world. I spent enough years "being.doing, saying, thinking, yada yada yada....to have earned this right. I live the life I want and live it happily

 

[Miss Stella]

Dearest Swing Motorman-
Wait patiently. The right woman will come along. You are such a gentleman, it just takes THE right one!
Don't lower your standards or your style tor ANYONE.
Be yourself...everyone else is taken.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

The modern world can be trying at times, that's for sure. I don't have a single friend outside the Lounge with the slightest interest in Vintage. They all think I'm a bit nuts. I spent my time with them, going to bars, where the modern Justin Bieber, or whoever, hit is being played by the DJ. Watching the people in the bar and how they behave gets me down.

The bright side is, I can come home to my little time-capsule, turn on a DVD of Lawrence Welk, Johnny Carson, Hee Haw, or some-such and forget about the world. For that time, I'm in the world I love and nothing can get me down.

To build on what Steven was saying, dating's hard, too. I recently was dating a girl, very nice gal, we had some similar interests (one of two gals I've ever dated who brought up Lawrence Welk to me, and had no Idea I knew who he was lol) In the end, she was too modern for me. Finding someone with those vintage values and mindsets is tough, but they're out there, if we're out there, at least that's what I believe. So, to all who are looking, I wish you the best and don't give up. Never know when Miss or Mr. Right is going to show up!

I think making that 'vintage time' for yourself is very important. All us retronauts just gotta keep on keepin' on.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Thanks for the input everyone, and please keep it coming.

I have built my life around my vintage values.

I live in a mid-century time capsule house that I spend time furnishing and decorating with vintage finds.

My career is vintage-related.

I spend a lot of time reading vintage magazines, books and watching vintage TV shows/films.

I eat unprocessed foods and buy locally when practical.

I practice what I believe.

However, I have also been very active within my community and state with shaping public policy. I volunteer and donate to local causes. I need to do that to be true to myself. I don't deny the problems of today and do what I can to make positive changes.

But like Lizzie pointed out with the example of the magazine in the check-out line, today is so IN YOUR FACE! Never before have we been so bombarded with garbage everywhere. I agree with others that a sense of humor, finding respite in art and good reading are helpful and therapeutic. But sometimes I get downtrodden about it and yes, angry.

Cosmopolitan used to be fun before Helen Gurley Brown left. Then it became porn with tag lines about giving him **** etc. Why should we be subjected to porn in the check-out lines?

The news is no longer news. It's like The Enquirer only not as funny.

Any time I need something for my house that I can't buy vintage I realize how shoddy and ugly so many things today are.

So, sometimes it's overwhelming.

And to be clear, it's the values and spirit behind vintage that I am married to; it's not a matter of widgets and age. I know most of you get that but a casual reader may not.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

I am humbled, Miss Melissa! Thank you. I'm just thankful for all the great thinking that this topic has provoked. It even led me to write a lengthy blog post. I hope some of what I've written here contributes to the discussion in this thread: http://rumbling-rails.blogspot.com/2012/06/drawing-inspiration-from-past.html

I agree with Lizzie, Rue, and Gin&Tonics about TV being a big drag-- I never got into watching it, and credit some of my general happiness to that. Modern TV news is such a drag in so many ways... that and other trashy shows are something I don't miss about living the vintage-y life.

<humor>One thing I do miss, though, is meeting girls my age who understand and appreciate the same things I've been writing about today. Anybody know of any near northern PA?</humor> But seriously, some isolation from my peers is not too high a price to pay for motivation, values, and a good boost towards achieving general happiness in life. I truly wish the same good feelings on everyone here in the Lounge.


-Steven

I'm glad this thread has inspired you!

 

[William Stratford]

Avoiding the television is a must - the world is not going to change just for us watching it, and all that it seems to do is reel off the latest health scare or celebrity gossip (or lies about world events, but lets not go there...there, see, starting to grrr already, and that's just talking about it). The only thing I watch now are historical documentaries or selected drama from decades ago (Brett's Sherlock amongst them ), and I simply do not understand the attraction of the likes of Jeremy Kyle and his ilk. Oh dear, there I go again!! See, its bloody insidious (if you'll pardon my french).

The rest, I think, comes from a love of things of yesteryear. Not just the interest of an academic or a voyeur, but an actual love of old things. When you can feel the history that they have seen, the craftsmanship that went into them (rather than just a 10,000 kerplunk/day factory press churning them out), it slows you down and gives you a connection back into the eras of humanity that are largely dark to majority of people.

Cats also help (I've been known to wake up with the neighbours cat asleep on the bed!) as does a good scotch or cognac, and a book (dear god does anyone understand the attraction of the "Kindle"?!). The most relaxing thing though is gardening - being able to get out in the sunshine (or even just the gloom if I can get a fire going in the brazier - I wonder how much depression we see today is down to the loss of real fire) and get the dirt under your nails is so therapeutic...and then when the vegetables are ripe there is nothing finer than sitting in the garden with a pint, eating tomatos and onions straight from the raised beds ).

 

[Amy Jeanne]

This is my attitude -- what I like is so much more interesting and AMAZING than those stupid "in your face" women's magazines crap that they don't even register on my radar. I just see something really lame and not part of my world. Not worth getting bent out of shape over. What we like is 1000 million times more fun