How to Live in Uncertain Times
January 2020 has been a most interesting month.
We have plenty of anxiety and uncertainty all around us, as usual--the impeachment hearings, the corona virus, the loosening of environmental protections, international political tensions, and all the rest.
These kinds of situations are normal, but somehow this month I am feeling all kinds of unusual levels of apprehension from people I know quite well.
I am getting two messages every day:
1. We cannot control everything in our lives and are bound to be upset if we think we can guard against every eventuality.
2. People can't always do what they say they will do. Sometimes it's a personal choice not to keep a promise, but often they simply cannot due to outside circumstances.
These two messages are related: We are not as much in control individually as we think we are. Although it's good to try to have it all together, it can all fall apart in an instant.
This insight, brought into my face every day for 31 days, is sinking it. We can't sail our own boat alone; we need to help, encourage, and forgive each other.
We have plenty of anxiety and uncertainty all around us, as usual--the impeachment hearings, the corona virus, the loosening of environmental protections, international political tensions, and all the rest.
These kinds of situations are normal, but somehow this month I am feeling all kinds of unusual levels of apprehension from people I know quite well.
I am getting two messages every day:
1. We cannot control everything in our lives and are bound to be upset if we think we can guard against every eventuality.
2. People can't always do what they say they will do. Sometimes it's a personal choice not to keep a promise, but often they simply cannot due to outside circumstances.
These two messages are related: We are not as much in control individually as we think we are. Although it's good to try to have it all together, it can all fall apart in an instant.
This insight, brought into my face every day for 31 days, is sinking it. We can't sail our own boat alone; we need to help, encourage, and forgive each other.
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