What’s The World Coming To?

I think you have to reach a certain age to start asking this question. It’s a tired kind of question. But I have found myself asking it for sure. It’s there whispering in the dark corners of my mind sometimes. Hence the song.

And it is, of course, a question which cannot be answered. (Though some people are sure that they are the ones who do have the answer.) But for many of us, when it is asked, it is expressing a slightly sad sense of care-worn worry:

“Things are looking worse than I imagined they should or could be when I was younger”.

I believe, however, that the question can exist in our minds without allowing it to lead, on the one hand, to a resigned shrug of the shoulders or, on the other, to depression. Because that “World” we are referring to is, in reality, not something we ever can, could or should carry on our shoulders. It is simply not in our capacity, and it never was, to change the world. Even if we happened to have been so inclined to try. Which personally, being a conscientious and worthy sort, I was.

So now I am, inevitably, older. And my two antidotes to becoming weighed down, which might constitute the closest I’ll ever come to a kind of wisdom, are, consistently, still these:

- Firstly to accept this moment for what it is. That’s all I ever have. And you know what, it’s Ok. At the very least, even on a bad day, it’s Ok. That doesn’t sound like much. But it’s enough.

- Secondly, today I can try and move something, somebody, myself, anything, in a good direction. My own definition of good being - “the overall reduction of suffering”. There are so many opportunities to do that.

And that too, is enough.

But here’s an additional something … in the midst of all of this seeming dull and uninspiring “managing expectations” I regularly get the bonus surprises of - laughter!, giggles!, amazement!, and exhilaration! As well as some good old satisfaction and contentment. There is even the occasional glimpse of that rare beast known as “Joy”.

So what’s the world coming to?

It’s a glorious mystery, mate.