HINDSIGHT is 2020

Comments

• geoff1000

  September 2020

  The lockdown has certainly shown that many of us are at least as effective when working from home ; but that impacts the viability of the transport sector, and businesses such as Starbucks.

  We have done more shopping online, better fot the environment ( because a multi-drop van is more efficient than several car journeys ) ; but worse for high street shops. Fewer flights slows down CO2 and hence sea level rise, which is good for low islands, but they relied on the tourist trade which those flights brought. Stricter hygiene rules meant more single-use items, Including PPE, causing more litter. The economy stopped, but people still had to live and eat, which means they and their governments had to borrow money which will need paying back.

  The problem is that humankind is a gigantic Ponzi scheme, relying on continuous growth ; and every technological improvement which better accommodates more people, just buys us a little more time.

  We must somehow give people the means and motivation to have fewer offspring, without such methods as China's one-child policy. That probably needs more stable governments, so people can confidently save for their retirement, and don't have to rely on loyal offspring to support them.

  Unfortunately, that would need governments and nations around the world to change ; and the one common characteristic of those who have power, is that they want to keep it.
• quixotic_life

  September 2020

  @sillysassy ~ That is the most lovely thing I've seen in days!!!

  Feelings about lessons learned...
  Over the past few years I've been pretty good at avoiding headlines and getting my "news" secondhand ~ Which was a means to reduce my generalized anxiety symptoms. Now, given my lack of daily interaction, my internal turmoil has settled to the point of only occasional upset.

  This time, and space, has allowed for less clouded introspection, an ability to be more open and free with how I relate to others, an opportunity to embrace the things about myself that have been causing me unchecked hardships I was previously blind to, more opportunities to express myself, and (one of the greatest things) brought me to this community! A community of people who have been warm, welcoming, and accepting of my kind of weird. Their humor, creativity, honesty and vulnerability came into my life at the perfect moment in time for me!

  My entire world as I knew it has been ripped open and I'm getting to pick and choose which scraps I save and stitch into a comforting shawl to wrap myself in as I move forward.

  It's painful and my heart aches for my own ruins, but it's hurting from knowing there's traumatic devastation being felt globally as well. I feel it in my core and sometimes it is completely debilitating. But I know I can only be as good to others as I am to myself.

  As my final days of summer are wrapping up, I'm doing my best to ready myself for the next nine months of effort, where what I have to give is received by our students and the team I work with. I'm hopeful that someday I'll have enough resiliency to do more ~ But for now I feel content with where I'm at, where I see myself going, and the positive impacts I'm able to make closer to home within my real world community.

  And lucky me ~ I have a growing network of support (to receive and offer) within this real online community as well!

  @sillysassy ~ Thank you for posting this and triggering a needed moment of consideration, reflection and re-grounding. What a great way to start the day!!! 💗
• sillysassy

  September 2020

  Awwwww @quixotic_life you are so sweet and kind.

  @geoff1000 I can see how your perspective shows some of the pros and cons. We have great businesses pop up and then struggle to support them. We have new technology that allows the ability to not have to be in an office all day but that changes the course of our interaction with other people and connection with the "outside" world. Stricter hygiene meaning more litter etc. I do see some of those kinds of growing pains. What it feels like is that ONE thing when taken too far does not come without complications if we take it too far. If we forget about the possibility that this IMPROVEMENT might have negative implications then we don't use caution. I'm not sure about the Ponzi scheme of humanity but I can appreciate what you are referencing.

  @quixotic_life I love that you have been able to find yourself in all of this noise. I agree this community is a lovely space to explore other ideas and thoughts based on a non-traditional lifestyle which also gives you the freedom to figure out who YOU are! It sounds like you are a teacher so thank you for what you do. AMAZING! Those who can't teach... Send their kids to school. hahhahaha I really enjoyed your word picture of finding a moment to reflect and "re-ground". Finding thankfulness for what we have and purpose in our lives. Thank you for being part of this community.