Depressed? Anxious? Is it time to grow up..? The world goes out of its way to keep us emotionally stunted. But loving the world – warts and all – is one of the first steps towards self-empowerment.
Question of the day: is the world getting worse, or does it just seem that way?
Life seems pretty gruesome at the moment. And I see a lot of my friends struggling to keep their heads above water. Turn on the news, and it’s corrupt politicians, environmental chaos, and celebrity sap.
Drop into social media, and it’s natural disasters, kids being slaughtered by one regime or another, our global destiny being driven by petty self (or corporate!) interest.
And cats. Lots of cats.
It’s over-whelming isn’t it?
Of course it is. If you’re not feeling the collective sorrow of the world to some degree or another you’ve either died inside or you’ve got your head under a rock.
But what do we do about it?
I think we all know that “numbing out” – either through drugs or any number of other escape tactics – isn’t the way to go. We feel like we’re better than that.
And so some of us rally to the world’s aide – determined to fix these wrongs and make the world a better place. But that road only throws us face first into the stop sign of our own impotence.
The problems of the world are so immense, so deeply rooted in culture and history, that no amount of stern letters to the editor, or self-righteous facebook ‘likes’ can change it.
We think there might be a single possum in the roof. We find an entire army of orcs.
A friend of mine forwarded this blog post to me the other day: Everyone I know is broken-hearted. Have a read if you’ve got a lazy 10 minutes. I think it nicely sums up the angst of a generation…
Anyway, he starts out by sharing his own growing sense of hopelessness and despair:
I don’t remember ever feeling this miserable and depressed in my life, this sense of futility that makes you wish you’d simply go numb and not care anymore… Everyday I wake up and think: fuck, more of this? Really? How much more? And is it really worth it?
I think this kind of ‘what’s the point’ despair is a lot more common than we admit. Even among highly successful and driven people. There comes a point…
Anyway, I think he’s about to nail it when he remembers how and why he was so much happier as a kid:
It didn’t used to be like this when I was a kid. I’m not getting nostalgic here… Life sucked when I was young. I was unhappy then too. But there was always the sense that it was just a temporary thing, that if I stuck it out eventually the world was going to get better — become awesome, in fact.
Right on. But from there he goes right off beam:
“But the reality is that the three generations who ended the 20th century, the Boomers, their Generation X children, and Generation Y, have architected a Western civilization that’s kind of a shit show.”
Easy fellah.
I think it’s very easy to romanticise the past. Would anyone really prefer to be alive at any other previous point in history? Before all the recent advancements in health, sanitation, technology, human rights and democracy?
Before blogs like this?
Sure things aren’t perfect. Far from it. But I’m not sure I buy the line that things are getting worse. The chances that you’ll die a violent death are very, very small. Once, dying of natural causes was considered a great fortune.
And if your sense of hopelessness and despair is tied to how the world is going, what have you really got to complain about? By that logic, the oppressed peasants of black-plague Europe must have been burdened by immense existential angst.
But I doubt it.
I reckon the ‘suffering’ comes out of a mismatch between our expectations and reality. As he says, he always thought life would “become awesome.” Angst is the pain that comes with seeing the world (and our futures) aren’t as awesome as we thought they were.
It’s like Tyler Durden says in Fight Club:
… We've been all raised by television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars, but we won't and we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.
We bought the line that the world was essentially fair and just and good (from Hollywood?), and we were destined to play some sort of pivotal role in human history. Set-backs are fine because every hero’s quest needs a few challenges.
But then we get older, and we realise that the world is, and has always been ‘a shit show’… and it’s not getting better any time soon. And we realise that history isn’t likely to give a toss about how we lived our largely irrelevant lives.
If we’re not careful, this leads to a special kind of sulking. If the world isn’t awesome and I’m not special, then I don’t want to be part of it. I’m going to take my sense of entitlement and join the ‘pissed-off’ brats hanging with Tyler Durden…
The only anti-dote is to grow up. And by that I mean let go of the unrealistic world-views we picked up somewhere along the way. Accept the world is how it is – two parts beauty, two parts horror, 1 part videos of cats. Accept that you are how you are. From there, live the life that is actually offered to you.
And accept that life will only be awesome if you make it awesome. Take this responsibility.
The world is a shit show. Sure. But are you going to waste the precious few years you have here feeling bad about it?
Be generous and courageous because you want to take the human story forward. Crying over a past that never was doesn’t help anyone.
Time to grow up.
Sow Behl says
awesomeeeee… I agree 10000% … great post.
sturtboyTim Price says
Good post Jon. I have fallen for the old trap of thinking that life was so much better when I was 10, sunny days, kicking the footy around the backyard, playing Batman and kapowing the Joker….ah those were the days……then I remember my mother making me eat asparagus and liver and brussel sprouts!!! YUK
Im glad Im all grown up now and can still do those other things but NOT have to eat stuff I dont like!
Colin white says
After reading your writeup i would just love to have a conversation with you face to face if only to let you know how i feel about all life and the deep sense of fullfilment i have
Deanne says
Best one yet. Totally enjoyable read
nancy pi squared says
This writer is fantastic.
No – when I was doing general studies in 1977 the Middle East Crisis was at one of many peaks, and I expected the world to end any second. Same in 2001 with 9/11.
Yes, not everyone will be special, save the world or be a millionaire. But most people don’t die in childhood any more.
As they say, reality is a bitch.
nancy pi squared says
And what is it about cats?
KatM says
Pure wisdom! I hope the fundamentalist terrorists are reading it.
EK says
I agree, this post has good wisdom in it. Awakening happening and more truth is being revealed. Please
TURN OFF YOR TV….. as it is a mind controlling unit in our living rooms!
Kat, would you please tell us who are “the fundamentalist terrorists”? I am just curious..
Thank you
Jenny says
Hi Jon,
I think you’re right, it’s very easy to only remember the good stuff from previous times, the older you get, the more rose-coloured the glasses… My elderly mother has a saying: “be thankful for all you have”. She doesn’t have much, grew up through the depression and has gone through various “Stuff”, but she is always looking on the bright side of life, has lots of fun and laughter… really can’t beat it. I just have to remember to be the same ! :-/
As always, great post – one of the hightlights of Fridays!!!
Cheers
Jenny
Sue Wright says
Yes, we’re ALL Broken-Hearted…. But that’s exactly what the “Big Bang!” of all Creation MEANS!…. And, exactly what Einstein’s Great Theory, – &, Broken LAW of Relativity PROVES! – that we are ALL joyously! – gloriously! RELATED, or Connected, – we are ALL, joyously, – gloriously! “ONE!…” We are ALL, joyously, – gloriously! MADE! – to be BROKEN! – in order, to BECOME HUMBLE! – in order to UNDERSTAND! – in order to, humbly, ACCEPT God’s Great! Humbling! GIFT! – of HIS OWN LIFE! – of HIS ALL! – of US ALL! – of OUR ALL! – FOR US ALL!
We’re ALL Broken-Hearted…. But that’s exactly what the “Big Bang!” of all Creation MEANS!…. That we ALL CAME from “ONE!” small, humble, finite &, mortal “Big Crunch!” SEED! – or, SUPERSTARSEED! – (from) God’s small, humble, finite &, mortal SON! / SUN!
Darren says
That was fantastic Jon.
James Glanvill says
Fantastic, Jon. If that is not the most succinct summary of what is wrong with the world/Australia at the moment, I don’t know what is.
We live in the best country on the planet, but all I hear is ‘bitching’. We’re supposed to feel guilty because we live here and everyone else doesn’t.
This is still a land of massive opportunity, if you get off of your backside and do something about it!!
Jules says
Really hit the spot, as you so often do.
Nathan says
Hi Jon,
A horrible world or just history repeating on the hamster wheel of life??
Throughout the generations and the worlds history its always been the same story, a few bad eggs ruining the carton for everybody else.
In medieval times warlords pillaging villages for power, modern era corporate giants praying on the week and vulnerable. Since time began predators of all denominations have been preying on the less fortunate…
Power, greed, selfishness, the world is perfect, man is the only problem.
But the solution has been pre-ordained thousands of years ago. (i know what your thinking, another religious nut but hear me out).
Why do we all crave hope and a better future? Why do we all think there is something more and we were meant for something better? Because we ARE! There is a brighter future and its closer than ever before!
A promise has been made and its unraveling at an experiential rate, just turn on the news and see.
…..you still there? hello? haven’t lost you have I??
Your right, how could i believe anything other than the earth exploding out of thin air and that one day a fish decided to grow legs, talk and start driving a car and that our brain is just a mass of goo and chemical reactions that makes us want, feel, love and crave a sense of belonging that never seems to be satisfied (which may be the case). But did it all happen on its own……
I dunno, seems like a pretty hard pill to swallow, almost as hard as the idea of a supreme being, in control of the universe.
Fear not! don’t let your little sob story above dampen your spirits!
Enjoy life, show love and compassion to everyone around you and don’t fear uncertainty or evil individuals because soon this earth as you know it will become a very different and even more special place than it already is….
Dawn Curzon says
Gratitude is the fastest and simplest way to lifting your spirits (vibrations) :-)……..oh, and guess what happens? You’ll start to attract more stuff to make you feel grateful!!! It’s as simple as that…………oh yes it is 🙂
Helena Smirnis says
Spot on
Gordon Cooper snr says
G’day Jon
Thanks for your comments, enjoy them whilst having my Friday arvo crownies….starting to feel a bit guilty I haven’t bought anything from you though 🙂 a tip from an old bloke for all your readers ….property: buy as much as you can ….never sell it …and you will be having crownies every Friday arvo when your an old bloke or old sheila.
In contemporary vernacular “Property is awesome”
Kaye says
When you were a kid, you weren’t watching world news. Your world was that which you inhabited, what you saw and experienced around you. You can;t change the world, but you can light a little candle in your sphere. – Collectively we can make a difference if each of us does a little bit outside of ourselves. Just doing is so much more satisfying than worry or angst. Switch off the media, but I love it when it gives us access to posts like this – we can choose what we read and when.
Tom says
Wow Jon!!! Where do you find the time to research and develop your blogs? I for one assume that you are also a businessman with associated time-consuming chores. But many thanks for your pearls!!!
Recently, I visited an old mining-town cemetery. The preponderance of children’s graves was a very sobering reminder of how lucky we are today. As a new-born babe in UK during the war, with only poor nutrition available for expectant and nursing mothers, pneumonia TWICE nearly claimed my own young life. How lucky was I that penicillin had just been discovered and due to WW2 was rapidly made available? Normally, the development time would have taken much longer and I would not be writing this. So, even though the war provided us with Doodle Bugs and dog-fights overhead and bombs all around, on a regular basis, life has gone on for the survivors – and what a wonderful world of opportunity we Boomers have experienced. Deo Gratias! Or Thank My Lucky Stars!
One day in the fifties, my Grandfather, formerly first mate on a square-rigged tea clipper, took me out to see the wonderful new creation called the “Canberra Bomber”. He told me how he had paid to go into a field to see a man fly – about 200 yards – in a straight line – down a hill!!! He marvelled at the advances in aircraft which two intervening wars had instigated. He also lamented that those same wars had ruined the lives, homes and prosperity of so many people, (many of them his friends and neighbours in the industrialised London docklands), and that the financial costs had ruined the Empire!!! He had lived through its heyday and it meant a lot to him – British to the core!!! To his dying day, he backed the Pommes – poor bloke – but at that time they did have Lock & Laker, Freddie Tyson and our fellow-County-man the stone-walling Trevor Bailey, (Who could DRAW any match they would not win!), Titmus etc., so they did quite well.
But despite man’s selfish inhumanity to his fellows, life goes on; and thankfully Grandpa made a point of imparting his pearls of wisdom to his young descendants. For instance, he took me aside, when I was about fourteen or so and said, as I recall, “I want you to make it a principle of life, never to drink on your own. If you want a drink, go and drink with your mates. Now I don’t want you to make me any promises, just to make it a principle of life. If you make a promise and then break it, you would probably think, “That’s it. I’ve broken my promise to Pop. It’s over! But if instead you make it a principle of life, the ideal will continue on, despite your occasional failures.”
What a welcome influence that instruction has been in my life!
About once every couple of months, while on a visit to town, my Dad would take Pop’s earthenware gallon demijohn to the wine merchants for a refill of dry sherry. A convivial glass of sherry each evening was a ritual for my Grandparents. He reportedly enjoyed a good drink when he was younger, but believing that an inclination for habitual, intemperate drinking, and dependence upon it, is probably part nature and part nurture, he wanted to do his best to ensure that, with careful nurture, his numerous grandchildren would avoid any ‘nature’ tendency for the ‘closet drinking’ which had been prevalent in earlier family generations. Luckily, as far as one can tell, he succeeded!
In the wider world, power/money-hungry politicians, religious leaders and wealthy investors may do their darnedest to exploit the masses and lead them round by the noses – and tax them into pauperism; but individuals still grow and blossom, and despite that oppression and abuse, raise wonderful families. Those families are the key to the success of our communities and larger societies.
It behoves each of us to do our utmost firstly for our own family and then to help others whenever we can.
If each of us leaves our little patch of the world a better place for our having been here, we may just succeed in keeping up with, or hopefully staying just ahead of, the destruction wrought by the powerful.
To Life!!!
Jack Henderson. says
And in yesterday’s Melbourne papers (Sat 9th) one journalist’s “prophesy” was that we’re (whomever “we” are) now in a100 year war with the Moslem faith.
Jack Henderson.
ek says
Jack,
This is a total BS and nonsense… Wake up friends, we are all ONE regardless of colour, gender, religion, creed etc. Media at large and most journalists are dis-information agents to create division and fear between all of us. Please do not buy into these programming and propaganda of “divide and conquer. NO MORE WAR AND SUFFERING…. Ask yourself “Who is making money from wars?”
Thank you