I am concerned about the survival of our species, but more importantly about the longevity of our host planet. The more time passes, the less easy it is for her to ward off colds (melting glaciers), viruses (toxic injections) and general fatigue (constant fossil resource tapping).
I am saddened when I hear about people who are concerned with a TV show being canceled because “some horses died on the set”. Can you believe this is truly something, someone got pissed off about? It makes me feel deeply empathetic with all that is around me and how the general feeling sometimes ends up being a final giving up because the world knows it is not going to last forever.
People “need” their electronics. They are concerned with what is going on outside of the present moment and sometimes even in their own life. Take today for example, where I saw a mother, father and son eating breakfast at one of my favorite breakfast spots. The mother and father were both on their mobile devices doing whatever they were doing, while the child sat there, although seemingly happy and content, he just sat their smiling while his parents were deep in an email, text or facebook post. I told my wife, if I had a kid, the only thing I would be paying attention to is that child. This is my theory on why our kids today are so disconnected with people, nature and themselves. Not only are parents both working full-time plus, the time they do spend with their children is being trumped by external stimulation. These are things distracting them that are not even real. They are things they see as more important than having a connection with their own flesh and blood. This just one of many things I see that makes me sad.
Although I know the forces against nature are strong and that her illness will likely get worse, I am still optimistic that these kids (millenials) and even some in my generation will strive to make a difference and change the current trajectory we are on. I read an article today in where they talked about the desire for more and more people do be doing more meaningful work in their lives. Taking less money for something that impacts an individual, a community or even your own passionate desire. It’s a great time to be part of something. It’s even better to include others on what it is you are so passionate about. We have been losing to the old ways of living, thinking that we need to with how our parents lived. This is no longer true and it is no longer sustainable. We need to come together for a solution to what is happening before the solution is chosen for us.
