2025 has been quite a year and we are only halfway through it. We lost our home in the Palisades fires and then the whole world caught fire. Wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, and Israel, mass shootings and our president is pressing his authority like never before. There seems to be nowhere to turn in my quest for some normalcy and peace.
Feeling Hopeless
I grew up during the cold war and the communist scare. Civil rights demonstrations, free speech and segregation were the problems of that time. When we were all demonstrating and fighting for justice and change. We came together; we had hope for the future. A future where differences were more acceptable and wars were obsolete. That sense of hope has all but disappeared. The forces for division and exclusivity have overtaken our world. A culture of criminal activity pervades my everyday experience. The internet is filled with people trying to take my money or sell me Bitcoin.
There seems to be a breakdown in cultural inclusiveness. There is tribalism and division more than unity. Where are we heading for even more difficult waters and so what can we do to live well amongst such anger and violence? The notion of happiness seems to have morphed into a complete focus into seeking fame and money. The comedian Jerry Seinfeld said, “Since when has money become so important.” It seems now that being wealthy is the only goal. Worse yet it seems to be at any cost.
When the World Breaks, Don’t Let It Break You
Enough complaining. We all know what the problems are, but who has solutions that work. My political position has always been pragmatism. In other words, things that work for all Americans. There seem to be platitudes but no solutions.
Finding sanity for me is tied to considering the whole not just the parts. We need to look at the demographics, the economics. The truth gets twisted into sly versions of how to keep the money in the hands of a very few people. We’ve seen this before. Marie Antoinette said so very famously when told the people were starving, “Then let them eat cake.” Demonstrating how out of touch the aristocracy was to the needs of working people.
I remember a moment in my senior year of college in a class with some smart people and we were talking about what was going on in our country regarding the problems of the day. At one point I said, “I don’t know what I can do?” and the other person said “Something.” It kind of staggered me but it made sense, but it’s rung true over the years. We can all do something.
The Practice of Finding Sanity vs Chaos
Finding sanity is about activating yourself in some way. Write something, talk to someone, volunteer for something, send money, pitch in or even demonstrate peacefully. It’s like when alcoholics are trying to get sober, we recommend community service because it bolsters their self-esteem. Helplessness is depressing.
Another thing is not getting stuck in the moment. All things must pass, and they usually do. So many good things have happened during my life that have amazed me about what humans can do in a crisis. I know that we can improve our lives if we work together.
A really important issue facing our country is the arrogance of people who believe they know. That’s what happened in Nazi Germany before the war. Never assume you know anything. Instead, embrace ignorance. Ignorance is an open position, so we can listen to others and not make up our mind and shut everything else out. Thinking that we know everything makes us stagnant.
Reconnect to What Matters Most
Find ways of enjoying life. No matter what is going on around us we need to find places, people and things to do that bring us happiness and fun. Laughter is a great healer. Don’t miss an opportunity.
Of course, activity, exercise, meditation and dancing are sources of pleasure. Music, art, learning and getting together with people are always saving graces for difficult times.
Allow yourself to feel. Don’t push feelings down. If you want to cry, then let it out, if you are angry then write about it. Let your body do what it knows how to do. Don’t try to legislate your emotions. They have a logic all their own.
Finding Sanity is Tied to Finding Love
It may sound like a cliché but it’s true. Don’t isolate yourself from others. Reach out to family and friends and let them know you care. Love is what makes life worth living so developing it with others and animals or nature is the key to staying sane. The beauty of a sunset, the hope of a rising sun, a new day is always something to behold. Taking time to consider everything that is good in our lives helps us stay centered in an insane world.
The most important thing for us is to listen beyond the political and focus on the deeper truth. We want safety and security in our lives. The only way to get that is from unity of the deeper values of wanting to live a good life. We can all agree on that.