To tell the troof, all the things I used to do which gave me such boundless feelings of joy in a grim world, have all been lost.
It used to be books. I'd rush through my duties in order to settle down blissfully with a book and a cuppa.
Good though audio books are; and I don't know what I'd do without them; they're not the same.
Painting and embroidery were other pastimes which filled me with a sense of real delight. I can remember setting out my paints and an indescribable feeling (contentment?) coming over me even before I'd done anything!
I still get a lot of pleasure from many things but would love to be able to nip to the beach as I used to, or to a garden, exhibition or festival or even just for coffee with a friend.
I absolutely endorse the comments about the news. I recently read that it can even be seen as an addiction.
If so, it's one I gave up injecting into my life decades ago and have never regretted it.
There would be much less daily stress in people's lives if they understood exactly what it does to the psyche. It's like caffeine, you don't realise its negative impact until you give it up.
And how many are prepared to do that ?