This is neither the best of times nor the worst of times
We need to better understand how inaccurate "best" and "worst" narratives shape our emotional and spiritual centers -- and one thing each of us can start to do about it.
My Dearest Friend,
There are a lot of people in the world selling us on the idea that we are currently living in the worst of times. There are also many people selling us their particular solution that will create the best of times.
Don't buy in! Don't allow our lives--and the joy we deserve--to be derailed by these inaccurate messages.
Many ages before us have seen war, oppression, "toxic" political discourse, economic downturns, gossip, and slander. And sadly, many generations after us will see the same.
On the reverse of the coin, many generations before us have seen times of peace, freedom, political unity, prosperity, love, and kindness. And joyfully, many generations after us will experience those things as well.
We know the truth of this from their own learning and experience--and yet somehow (consciously or subconsciously) we buy into the "worst its ever been" or "we can create utopia on earth" narratives. And it keeps us from fully seeing ourselves and other people for what they really are: precious children of God.
My heart longs to write more on this topic, to help us understand how our era is neither the best of times, nor the worst of times. To help us all learn how to turn off the noise and walk more peacefully through life. Perhaps at some future time, I will be able to do just that.
But for right now, I'd like to offer just one small idea: when we see or hear these words--"unprecedented," "highest," "best," "greatest," "worst," "never-before-seen," "unmitigated," "disastrous," "extreme," "battles," "attacks," and "fights"--we should consider turning our attention and energy away from that voice and channel it into acts of love and kindness towards ourselves and our neighbors.
If we do this, we will disengage from something that damages our emotional and spiritual center, and will engage in something that builds that center through love. Not to save the world from disaster, and not to make it perfect. Just to take one step, that is within our control, to make it better.
Lots of love and prayers
John S.