It’s Soul Sucking
The world in which we live is falling off its axis. I’m serious and to be clear, I’m an optimist.
Here’s why I think our world is struggling.
We have existing and impending wars, replete with damage and deaths and escalation risks. We have natural disasters, including the virtual wipe-out of towns in North Carolina. Wipe-outs. We have a political candidate and running mate whose rhetoric is simply off the rail, filled with lies, misrepresentations and nastiness. We have the death penalty deployed when the actual prosecutor says don’t kill the accused as the trial was unfair. We have far too many people struggling with illnesses, including lingering COVID.
It is no wonder that our individual and collective mental health is at risk. So now what? What can we do now?
Three simple ideas:
- Vote and get others to vote for a candidate and her running mate who are civil and decent. The T chapter needs to end; it is too mean spirited. And a convicted sexual predator will save women? Spare me. Even if you don’t like the Democratic candidate, consider the need for a non-inciting voice to move us forward without venom.
- Find and display kindness and stomp down meanness. For real. It is possible to treat even adversaries well. Our kids need role models.
- Look for wonder, something kids possess. Rachael Carson had it right; we need to work to preserve our sense of wonder as we age. We need to see the benefits and joy within the amazing precious earth on which we live.
I’m worried that our collective souls are being scorched. Vote. Extend decency. Experience life’s goodness. If we don’t, we are sucking life out of life.
