Most of us prefer to be able to plan the direction of our lives. We keep calendars to remind us of appointments and important events. We have a tendency to follow routines during the day although the exact timing of what we do will vary from person to person. It simply feels better when we are able to anticipate what we will be doing in a year, a month, a week, a day, in the next hour. Unfortunately all of us have encountered sudden dramatic changes in our lives that jolt us from our comfort. We know all too well that uncertainty is a certainty in life. Adapting to sudden interruptions of the way we normally do things tends to shake our confidence and may even send us into a funk.
The past many years have been filled with the unexpected. If anyone had warned us that the two tallest buildings in New York City would fall from a terrrorist attack we might have laughed at the ridiculousness of such hyperbole. We felt confident that our children were safe when we sent them to school until it became apparent that we can’t count on being free from violence anywhere that we go. We tended to believe that worldwide pandemics that have historically wreaked havoc were a thing of the past. The march of Covid 19 across the globe affected our perspectives about the power of microbes.
We have dealt with the emergencies that have arisen, but we all feel a bit battered and less certain about the future. We may want to think about tragedy tomorrow but wonder if it would be batter to seize the day with concrete plans of action in the event of the next big thing that rocks our world. It’s difficult to know how to live with the realization that we cannot adequately predict what is going to happen from moment to moment. We learn instead how to balance the joy of the here and now with our preparations for whatever our march through life will actually bring.
Finding balance in how we react during unpredictable times can be daunting. If we worry too much we might tend to isolate ourselves to the point of feeling chronically anxious. If we simple ignore the warnings of dangerous days ahead we may end up in deep trouble with no resources for survival. The wise person takes precautions but then continues living with hope for the best. It’s really all that any of us can ever do.
I personally have learned that attempting to stay informed about movements and events that affect us all is a good way to remain alert. Because my mother was a single parent she taught me so many life skills that have no doubt protected me from harm. She advised me to never park behind a building but instead to put my car in a place that is visible to the largest number of people. She showed me how to take note of someone following my car and what to do if I suspected that someone had bad intentions. She gave me safety tip after safety tip not to keep me in a state of fear, but to allow me to feel comfortable taking part in all of the enjoyment of life. She pointed out that if we follow a few obvious protective rules we are more unlikely to become the victims of foul play.
Likewise I learned long ago to keep my car filled with gasoline, to have it maintained and checked on a regular basis. I have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers at the ready that I hope I never have to use. I get annual checkups with my doctors and my dentist. I carry insurance for a number of situations. Most of my safety measures have never been used but they provide me with the peace of mind to live without worry as a constant factor. I truly doubt that horrific things will happen to me but I will hopefully be ready if and when they do.
I know individuals who have become so obsessed with fear that they take loaded guns wherever they go. They hear a loud bang and instantly believe that they are under siege. They nail their windows shut and won’t leave their homes if it rains or gets cold or is dark. They believe the worst of people and generalize their anxieties to entire populations. They predict war and famine and only see the downside of existence. I often wonder how they even pull themselves from bed each day. It must be incredibly painful to feel that way day in and day out. Sadly there are forces among us that play on their fears, using them to gain power. They paint a picture of the world that is dark and dangerous. They limit the joy of living that almost always outweighs the difficulties. They pound people into a false state of paranoia that leaves them filled with distrust, cynicism and anger.
I would instead advise everyone to stay abreast of trends in geopolitics, study the changing world, keep up with the news and then embrace life with the kind of common sense caution that my mother advocated. After that it is best for each of us to take full advantage of every opportunity to celebrate the joys that unfold all day long. We can be ready for the worst and may even be surprised by the magnitude of it but worrying about possibilities before they happen should never define the way we live. Seize the day! Enjoy the moment! Be not afraid.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 