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It's never too late for consciousness, as far as I'm concerned

The image used includes the following description:

Memento Mori mosaic from excavations in the convent of San Gregorio, Via Appia, Rome, Italy. Now in the National Museum Bath of Diocletian, Rome, Italy. The Greek motto gnōthi sauton (know thyself, nosce te ipsum) combines with the image to convey the famous warning: Respice post te; hominem te esse memento; memento mori. (Look behind; remember that you are mortal; remember death.)

It seems an appropriate comment for the current times. The future looks very dark for humanity. In the thousands of years that we have existed as the culmination of an unimaginably long evolution, the only thing we appear to have learnt is the divide and rule principle. The ability to kill and maim each other has been refined to an unbelievable degree. The current world situation is deeply ugly. On top of that, we have learnt to exploit each other and use that to form artificial hierarchies to oppress each other. All in the name of progress and civilisation.

And yet, there are, at the same time, so many good things being done to help each other to support and sustain each other. Basically, it's my experience that people are good and that they like to do good. It seems to me that what each person is looking for is to be content, to be happy. The efforts we go to to achieve that is huge: we invest in our education to get a better job, we save our money when we can to enjoy the things of this world, We strive and strive in search of that elusive feeling and forget that the feeling we are looking for is with us all the time, if only we would look. We are convinced it will come with the new partnership or the new job or the new home; it'll be great and perfect when we get that. And maybe it even is for a short time, till the next thing comes along to get or go for.

We don't sit still for long enough to be aware of all we already have and to be thankful for that. No we have to have more. 

For many, however, I see that they get their satisfaction and enjoyment when doing something together or for others. The joy of the smile on a child's face, the thank you smile from someone you've helped or been kind too. 

There was a time when love was what we all aspired to have and to feel. All the songs and stories of everlasting love inspire us to the search for that feeling. But the only constant is change, we all know that. Nothing lasts. Not even you or me. And certainly none of our relationships. And yet, we keep on looking and hoping for that love. I get that. It's what keeps me going. Maybe I have learnt something after all: the fact that I keep on getting breath is a truly remarkable expression of love that will last a whole lifetime. To understand that and acknowledge it makes me very happy. It's my eternal love, not depending on anyone or anything, just there. Now that's why I try to be conscious, to know myself, to understand the value of what I have. That's what makes me happy and I am truly grateful that I have been helped to understand that during my lifetime.

 

I just don't get it! This world just gets crazier!

There is so much bad news about our environment available. Nobody can escape it. From the devastating heating up of the environment as seen by heatwaves everywhere - even the permafrost is melting - to the endless numbers of species which have died out, to the devastating wars, the endless misery of refugees and starvation of millions - even the rich UK has an increase in children with malnutrition - and the homeless and poor everywhere. On top of that, the most fundamental sources of food we have are poisoned through the crap we put in the water and ground. Even the air is poisoned.

And yet, what is the primary interest of politicians? Not our well-being, that's for sure. The problems facing humanity are on a scale to make Noah's flood seem a trivial incident. I just don't understand why the problems facing human survival are not at the top of everybody's priority list.

I'm approaching my 73rd birthday and I seriously doubt if my grandchildren will live to such an age. I suspect I was born at a time when the amount of crap in our food and water and air was not quite as prevalent as it is today. It's painful to watch how most people seem to just ignore the facts. When I walk around, I see people treating the world outside their own four walls as a general rubbish dump, lately including face masks just chucked on the ground.

The argument I read and hear is always about the short term and fuck tomorrow. Well tomorrow is what our grandchildren will inherit. If we can't deal with the problems now, how can they possible deal with such fundamental issues facing us today when they have had another 30, 40 years to increase?

I know there are many good people doing their best, despite the self-interests of governments and I suspect that the deterioration of our environment would be a lot further along if it wasn't for their many efforts. I applaud them and hope I can be counted among them in some small way. I know it's down to each individual to take responsibility for their contribution or lack of it. I despair when I see how many of the younger generations appear to have no sense of the precariousness of our situation.

I recently watched a documentary on the planets, by Professor Brian Cox, in which at the end he said he hoped we could go and discover so much more of the galaxy and universe we live in. The idea of this careless and ignorant species populating more planets is horrible. If we can't look after this one and are unable to live in some semblance of peace and with respect for each other, then going to other planets is not good for the universe. We take our unsolved problems with us. Look at what we have already done with the bit of space around our planet, which has so much junk that the fear of a space crash is increasing with every launch, with potentially devastating effects when the bits come hurtling down. There are already groups whose sole task is to monitor this risk, including meteors, but all they can do at present is offer a warning like "here it comes, good night!"

What I really don't get is how we can walk around with such blinkers on so that we blend out whatever doesn't suit us or immediately affect us. Hey, we are all affected, like it or not. The current virus crisis, is just a taste of things to come, With the poisoned environment which also affects the animals, fish and food we eat, an increase in weird and horrible diseases and illnesses is pre-programmed. Apparently, the most important thing is to get the economy moving again - i.e. let's get back to doing what we do best: killing ourselves!

As has been said many times, the devil has long been out of a job - we've taken over the production of hell. Sometimes I think many people haven't developed into human beings yet - they've only made it to the asshole stage.

On a more positive note, the problems we face are made by people not by God or the universe, so people can solve them. We just have to do it!