Changes can be eye openers!

World wide fuel prices are being affected. Gas, power, coal. The snowball effect is that food prices have risen. Cost of living rose along with it.  Wages haven't. Post pandemic the world seems to have fallen into a slump even though the dramatic death tolls have ceased, yes people still die, they always did and always will. Name any illness and some will not survive it. Wars keep raging, dissatisfaction reigns as does greed and animosity. Where is all this coming from? Or has it never been away since Adam and Eve and their curiosity for wanting more?

Today I wanted to write something cheery, then I saw the news about Poland being struck by a 'stray' missile? Was it Russia, was it the Ukraine? Was it a provoking action? Or a genuine 'wrong co-ordinates' from a stressed young soldier? Sigh....deep breath!

I am led to believe the fuel price situation is because of the war between Russia and the Ukraine. I am led to believe the shortage of staff in all sectors of society is due to the pandemic. 

And then there is the climate issue. Farmers appear to be the biggest target in many countries, including clean green New Zealand. 

Back to the pollution: Cows emit gas. Just look around you. Cars emit fumes, chimneys smoke. Factories pollute the air with their waste burn off. Not to mention lighting pollution at night- buildings are like Christmas trees with every light imaginable burning for no reason except that they can. Maybe I should care less?

I can't fix wars, I can't change the fuel and price crisis. In fact I can't fix any of the issues above - though I do have a responsibility as a human being to do whatever I can to promote and uphold human dignity, respect, love and compassion. I just wonder how to do this effectively. 

So I look for ways I can contribute to a better world. I avoid conflict by trying to be accepting, a peacemaker where possible and avoid conflicting situations. Offer a listening ear, a shoulder and smile and hug.

Pollution takes many forms. Yes I just flew half way across the world. To see my children and grandchildren. Until someone can "Beam me up Scotty" I'll continue to fly - so I need to take counter actions. How? By using my bike rather than car, by walking more, by cooking efficiently saving power. Recycling. Every little bit helps. We eat little meat, occasional fish and regularly vegetarian. A varied diet is healthier than a fad diet. Wearing thermal wear inside to save putting the heating up high. Walking a healthy circuit daily to keep my body in shape warding off illness needing medical care. There are so many ways one can make a difference, to one's circumstance both health wise and financially.

I read an article a few days ago in which people were interviewed how they are coping with increases in food and fuel prices. How they are managing to re-assess necessities against extras. The thing I noticed was people were choosing to go without or reducing their spending not on essentials but on extras.. Less monthly magazines ( most are online these days anyway - saves paper)! Going out for dinner less often. Opting for one car ownership instead of two. Reducing extra channels on tv. I got the feeling people with more financial means had been interviewed. Life is hard for those barely making ends meet. Where are their stories?

Maybe there is a family in your (my) street who could use a free meal every week. Cook something for that family- make contact, care, share! One way of making this world more habitable and caring is to reach out to our neighbor. Especially the ones we haven't met yet. 

Anyway, I just thought I'd get this off my chest, reset my caring clock and be more aware of how I can make a difference. Onward and upward to a more beautiful world.

Be good.       Be kind.         Keep smiling.

What are you thinking?

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: 26 April 121 – 17 March 180 was Roman emperor 

from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher.

This made me ponder on the topic. Am I master ( mistress) of my own destination or are things pre-ordained? Or is it a bit of both?

One of the more frequent statements I hear around me is, " Have you noticed how short fused people are these days?" It is August 2022. We are trying to haul the world out of a pandemic. Some say we already have left that behind us, while others maintain a strict lifestyle being guarded and insecure in their actions limiting movement and one could say, the joys of life. Of course there are also those who have denied the whole pandemic as a myth, and those who have adapted and learnt to be aware, to chance to a new normal, a safe, healthy lifestyle. Getting on with life as best they see fit. Doing what feels comfortable and safe. 

Perception of the situation at hand and acting according to one's nature and self-reliance?

I am occasionally inclined to think that the pandemic isn't only about a virus, becoming ill and the most dreadful of consequence could be death, but that it doesn't 'just' affect our physical state of being but also infects our psychological state. The recovery results are varied. Well, that's the thought in my mind at present. This is as a result of what I experience of the changes in society in general.

I notice little of the relief that the reduction in the wave of destruction COVID brought has ebbed. I do notice short fused, irritated and impatient people quick to complain about trivial ( or more impacting) situations. The pandemic has not only made many physically ill, the brain too has been affected. Is that a panic reaction?  I hear sounds in the conversations that people feel they are 'owed' freedom now the dangers have ( relatively) passed. That the governments concerned 'robbed' them of freedom while not acknowledging that even for them this was un-chartered waters and needed to take a stand to keep the populations safe if that was at all possible. 

                           Perception of the situation at hand and acting according to one's insecurity?

Short staffed in many areas ( not just here in the Netherlands but world wide) has seen some disturbing fracas taking place. Heated discussions and even violence well above proportion for the 'complaint' one might say. Greed is another trait I've seen on the rise. This too in the recent crime figures, the new ways to undo one of personal belongings including money. Elderly often but not solely, being targets of villainous actions. Going door to door to 'check' the corona vaccination pasport and thereby gaining access to homes. Or pretending to be from the health department checking if the ventilation in the home is working properly, to name a few tricks I read in the paper about. Sad and deplorable. working from home and people being limited in moving about freely changed the face of the criminal's actions. Even they have adapted their modus operandi. Once the working at home rule was relaxed, home invasion thefts was once again on the rise. 

                             Perception of the situation at hand and acting according to one's lack of morals?

Standing in the queue waiting to be served, at the airport, train and someone finally 'snapping' and lashing out at personal who are working their butts off coping with less colleagues to get the job done. Businesses understaffed causing problems in all kinds of sectors. Where have all these people gone? Some who had severe COVID are sick at home still, suffering long term damage, some have changed jobs. With cafes and restaurants having been closed for long periods staff have moved on and many not returning. With shops closed Online sales boomed and more delivery staff was needed...and so the list goes on. Our world has changed in the way we do things. In the way we expect things to happen. I get the feeling that our thinking hasn't changed at the same speed. We expect the order of things to remain the same or at least return to something recognizable.

So how does the above quote figure in this writing?

The pandemic is nobody's fault. It has happened like in all times of disaster and unknown situations, the feeling of despair and fear seems to bring out other personal reactions one might expect or even suspect. Think of how people may have reacted in centuries gone by. Look at the times of citizen unrest and the looting that happens! The discovery of AIDS, the black plague, cholera to name a few. 

Yet we humans survive the onslaught and pick up the pieces. Each in our own way. We make our own (un)happiness by the decisions we make, the thoughts we nurture, the fears we dread and the insights we may or may not have gained.

Marcus may not have been far wrong in his statement. It sure set me thinking. Thanks for taking the time to read my ramble.

Be good - Be kind - Keep smiling