It is fair to say we may never have experienced a time in the past 100 years with more division, suspicion, and anger in North America than we have in 2020. Polarization and politicization seem to be the watchwords of those who seek to gain by exposing and exploiting rifts, be they real or imagined. An unwillingness to listen to those we may disagree with has lowered public discourse to the point of being barely perceptible. Social norms, kindness and compassion are considered old fashioned and quaint. We reject and cancel all who oppose us. In short, the descent into tribalism has been swift and merciless. Gone seem to be the courageous scribes and scholars, the resolute preachers and the dreamers, who once could encourage us to strive for an existence on a higher plane. Perhaps we must reach back into history, to the words of Abraham Lincoln, who on the eve of the American Civil War spoke the words we so sorely need to hear again today:
“I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field and patriot grave to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” While these words were uttered by an American President in the context of an American War, they sound no less applicable to the citizens of my country in the year 2020. I believe therein lies the rub. The citizens of 1861 could rely on a great leader to motivate people with great oratory, we have no such luxury in 2020, on either the north or south side of the 49th Parallel. What passes for leadership today in Trudeau or Trump would have been run out of town on a rail in 1861, the people of the day simply would not have abided by it, so why do we? And what then are we to do? We have no such competent leadership at the helm today, and none are appearing on the horizon of any party contending for power on either side of the border. I would submit we all try the following, throughout all human history it is the recipe below that has helped carry the day, and it can once again, if only we let it. So here is a simple 5-point plan to find your own meaning and happiness in a world intent on robbing you of both. 1. Stop watching and listening to the news. Repeat, stop watching and listening to the news. The bias the hard left and the hard right has injected into what was initially meant to be quite literally, a review of “Notable Events”, “Weather” and “Sports”, hence the acronym “NEWS”, has become something dark and always looking to influence. Apart from hearing information from Medical Officers with advice on Covid, the rest is of little consequence, it can only bring us down in its current form. 2. Get off Social Media. Repeat, get off social media. For the rationale please see above. Other than some good recipes and YouTube videos on how to change your oil properly, the rest is garbage. Try life without it for a few days and see if you might still be able to breath, I betcha you can. 3. Get Outside. For all the beautiful indoor spaces we have created, including our own homes, nothing ever has or ever will compete with the great outdoors…and leave your phone in the house, it does not need to get outside as much as you do, it will be okay on its own for a while, trust me! 4. Listen to Music. It matters not what floats your boat for genre. Personally, I like Christian Rock, Classical and Soul, but whatever works for you. Music is also really good for sharing; it does not always have to be enjoyed with Airpods or headphones or played at jet plane decibels. It is hard for the bad stuff to get into your ears when nothing but good stuff is floating in. Finally; 5. Let Nature Back into your Life We are a part of Nature and Nature is a part of us. When we are disconnected from nature, we are disconnected from ourselves too. This includes plants, animals, and the environment around us. None of those things will ever try to politicize the time you spend with it; it is not in its nature. Nature will heal you when nothing else can, it will not judge you, chastise you or offend you. Just let it touch you and reach out and touch it yourself whenever you can. Nature is neither good nor bad, it has no values, ethics, or morals, it just is, that is the core beauty of nature, it just is. Trust me on this, just be with nature and you will heal, it can be no other way. So, try these things, maybe not all at once, and maybe not all the time in the beginning, but strive to take some baby steps in these directions. Your self with thank you and so will the people around you. You will grow in patience and empathy and the divisions other seek to sow will lose all their meaning and power in your life. You will find meaning where only meaning can be found, in your own heart, in your own soul and in your own life. In the words of the immortal Abraham Lincoln, “may we yet find the better angels of our nature!”
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I grew up as part of a big family on a big mixed farm on the Prairies of Canada. All my opinions are my own. I have an Ag degree from Saskatoon and an MBA from New Brunswick. I am happily married with four children. I love my work, my family and my community and will guard them all ferociously. I try to bring critical thought to all I do and all I say. Leadership through example is the best way forward. |