Mood: ‘Let’s Start The New Year Right’ by Bing Crosby
Each Year Seems More Eventful
Many of us do it at this time of year, look back on past events. Maybe many of us even go so far as to make a New Years Resolution, though many of those I now eschew such a thing. Myself, and I do not know if it is just wisdom gained over the decades or what, but I begin to notice more and more that each year seems to become more eventful in many ways. Is it the truth, is it ‘simply’ the internet connecting us with everything all the time, or is it paying more attention to what goes on around me?
I have no idea.
Things Get Better All The Time, Right?
Every year technology advances. It makes Life better. Or it is supposed to, anyway. I could go into a long discussion on social inequality being a burden to those of lower incomes to enjoy the fruits of the new advances and the push to ‘force’ green tech on the world at the expense of those of lower incomes, but that is all a waste of typing; technology advances and will likely never stop, it is a fact of Life and Time.
Still and all, advances can and do make Life better; better medicines (I hope) and medical equipment and knowledge help to extend our lives, advancements in animal husbandry and agriculture grow and extend food supplies and so on. What I truly and deeply want to believe advances is human compassion and caring. However, this is folly. 80 years ago, there was a war that, among other things, stopped the genocide of the Jewish race and other what the Third Reich felt were ‘mongrel’ races. Today, hate for the Jewish race is at an all-time high since those 80 years past. Human Nature, I have written before, is short, nasty and brutish. Take away however you define ‘assault weapons’ and there will still be mass killings. Just look at history for proof that is has never stopped. Unfortunately, that is Human Nature.
Well, the above should go to those who have read this far that, although I generally have an idea of what I will blog, it is a stream of consciousness when I do write them. it spurred on a memory of a quote and I had to go search it out…
There are those who believe the intelligence of the author of the quote to be of Homeric genius.
That Was Depressing, Brad!
As mentioned, I did not intend to go down that train of thought, but it is an important truth to understand. For if we cannot understand it, how can we improve and make a better choice? So with that in mind, let me see if I can’t turn this blogboat in a better direction.
Who knows the Fate of the World? Climate change, wars/conflicts, the battles of the sexes/pronouns/gender, these are all things to name a few that seem to have the world in crisis levels. None of it is new, of course, and they are likely to go on and on. Sure, you can have your view, your ‘truth’ that will brook no changing because you ‘feel’ that way and thereby cause more strife and hate and conflict. Or, you can accept that will always be at least two sides to absolutely everything, and in some places an ultimate truth that you may decide to ignore, which is certainly your right. But, whoever you are, whatever you believe why cannot you see that the person or people you oppose feel precisely the same about their beliefs as you do and thereby understand what it would take to change their mind(s) as it would to change yours? There is a kernel of understanding and common ground there. With that understanding, why can you not, as an individual take the steps for at least a peaceful detente?
That power can be mighty and can change the world.
Yes, I fully understand that there are certain ideas that shouldn’t be gotten ‘on board’ with, but some of the more politically motivated ones have powerful media that tell us what we want to hear and what is not the exact truth. Can you imagine being manipulated into believing that eradicating a people is the correct thing? Can you imagine being manipulated into denying an election victory, either through a document that was faked to prove Russian collusion or by a power-mad leader? These things have happened.
The point of those examples is two-fold: why believe things that can be proven to be false and why let what others are telling you color your opinion in seconds about people you have known for years? I know many people who have or have been cut out of their lives for political reasons! How utterly ignorant is that when the Parties have flipped what is Right and what is Left since the country was born (speaking only of the US here)? Either side of the Aisle, you are really going to let them tear you from family and friends? That is the epitome of being fear-mongered and you shouldn’t be ashamed, you should be pissed-off at the manipulator(s), take control and begin to have conversations with those who housed to be loved ones, be they family or friends.
Communication is the key, with the understanding that we each of us are allowed to disagree with one another without devolving into violence of words or physical means.
That Was One Hell Of A Tangent, Bruh!
Perhaps it is best to expose the negative so we can see better the path to the positive. Not having planned to go off that deep into that tangent, that is how I will end this wish for a better year to come.
Now, today and from here on out, it is you, the Individual, who can make that decision to make all around you better. Yes, that is sometimes excising the toxic people from your life, I mean if a manipulator is toxic, then why not excise the manipulative media? But if is it is only a difference of opinion between you and a use-to-be friend or family, why not try to talk it over and see if there can be common ground? Communication, not Condemnation.
You want a more peaceful New Year? Make Peace around you.
I know especially emotional things can be difficult to overcome, especially if they are connected to, say, Christmas. For me, I have written before, there was another Ghost of Christmas Past for me this year with the loss of my best friend Randy. He came to love Christmas the last several years of his life and many memories are associated with him during the season. As it was with my brother, it is difficult to deal with that ‘emotional baggage’ but it is there and I choose to deal with it and in a positive way. That means plenty of tears but also plenty of great memories of good times. That is an important choice and self-communication.
We have it within ourselves to determine how we will react to any given situation. When possible, it is not better to spread Positivity and light? Every situation is different and we as one person can only extend that offer as best we can; it may not always work, but is it not always worth a try?
