How in the world do we make sense of what’s happening?

I expect all of us have encountered a number of things in our lives when that question was relevant. There are times when something makes no sense what so ever. From my experience, when these no sense moments occur, it is how we react to them that’s very important.

Yeah, easy to say, hard to do, right? What might solve an issue for me, might not help you. We can’t control many matters that leave us wondering, but perhaps, we can approach no sense matters like this.

When wine began to really interest me, I couldn’t make sense of a lot of the world of wine. Having spent time getting college degrees, I learned the way to make sense of something was to research it. From words like anosmia, bunghole, barrique, corked, enology, fining, lees, malolactic fermentation, noble rot, oenology, plonk, tannins, ullage and vinolgy, there was a lot of time spent taking wine courses, talking with wine makers, reading numerous books on wine, and, of course, tasting wine. That tasting was important so I could learn the five s’s of wine tasting: sight, smell, swirl, sip and savor.

After all those long hours of research, wine began to make sense, but I couldn’t have done it without the support and wisdom of many people

When you find yourself stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, or between a rock and a hard place, the best solution is to try and maintain your cool and to talk to someone. That someone can be a member of your family or a dear friend. When a family member passes on, it can be a very stressful and no sense moment. However, again, find your inner peace by doing what gives you peace. Is that spending time alone or is it to contact that person who is your anchor?

When someone you know is experiencing a hard time and trying to make sense of something, be there for that person. It’s through our personal relationships that we can began to make sense of a tense time. Words are important, but actions speak louder than words.

Speaking of words, when I took my college freshman year of English, I ran into a deep hole of ignorance. I could not make sense of the professor’s lectures, and, after taking a less than successful test, I privately told him the sentence structuring he was pushing wasn’t part of my high school English course, and I needed help. To his credit, he slowed down his teaching and helped me — and others — through the course. The professor helped me make sense of our language.

How does one make sense of our country’s current chaotic governance? So many basic tenants of our democracy are under attack by people who seek nothing but personal political power, and there seems to be little respect for the people. Many of us have never talked daily so much about trying to make sense of our politicians. Again thankfully, we can find ways to have a government of common sense and dignity if we reach out and support efforts that ensure our democratic republic stands strong with liberty and justice for all.

Have you noticed a common theme in these renderings?

It’s that we need others to help us make sense of ignorance, chaos and loss. Together let us raise a glass to each other.

May you find your anchor and be an anchor for someone.

As always, eat and drink in moderation, but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!