Looking back over the last few years, life seems to be one long onslaught of bad news, disappointments and bad decisions. Starting with the 2008 recession following the bursting housing bubble, to the unnoticed economic downturn in 2011, including the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris and the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, Brexit in 2016, over COVID starting in 2019 resulting in multiple lockdowns over 2 years, to a full blown land war in Europe and finally, inflation now appears to pull the rug out under many people’s feet.
I didn’t even mention mass shootings, gun violence, wildfires US and wildfires Europe, floods, religiously motivated killings, car crashes, hate crimes and ever rising taxes… because somehow, they seem so “normal” these days.
There’s just so much “bad stuff” is out there. It all appears too much. It appears too much because it is much.
How can we stay sane and safe in a world like this?
How can we stay sane and safe in times like this?
How can we stay sane and safe at all?
I believe that Howard Zinn said it best:
To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places – and there are so many – where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.
Howard Zinn
I agree with Zinn in that actions – also small actions – make a huge difference in the world. They definitely made a difference in my life and helped me move from a dark period in my life to a good place where I see the future in a much better light.
At one point, I only had enough energy for one positive action in my life: buy the cheapest, nice looking bunch of flowers at my corner shop. It was a very small action but the impact of my life was great. I always looked forward to the next bunch of flowers and they cheered me up every time I looked at them – and I looked at them a lot. Slowly but surely, this small bunch of flowers brought back a little light into my life and I managed to push back the darkness. As a next step, I started to walk the 2 miles into work which meant I got more daylight and made me feel better and fitter. Then, I incorporated some self-care and slowly but surely, I overcame all the big challenges in my life.
My life is not perfect by any means (I’m still doom scrolling more than I’d like) and I still continue with this habit of small actions to this day. I wholeheartedly take actions believing that a better future is possible. Furthermore, I know that if I want to see a better future, I must contribute myself.
So my question to you is: What small action will you take today to bring about a better future, to bring about your victory?