Summer! The word whether written, read or
spoken evokes thoughts and/or memories of warm, lazy days visiting with family
and friends. It is a wonderful bubble in the midst of frenetic schedules,
demanding deadlines, harsh weather and the resulting isolation.
Humanity enjoyed these bubbles for
millennia; yet, reality is that today life in a bubble exists only for a few. The
creeping encroachment of this world’s harsh underbelly with the blatant broadcasting
of its darkness shatters peaceful illusions.
We live in a world filled with political
unrest, violence, drought, fires, terrorism, and natural disasters. Globally
and at home many are experiencing displacement with an accompanying sense of loss.
The gap between the rich and poor is reaching new extremes with over 1% of
earth’s populace controlling over 50% of its wealth. One eighth of the world’s
population (925,000,000 people) live in extreme poverty that is they live on
less than $1.25 USD/day. Frustration grows as a disgruntled populace
increasingly fails to connect with the next cohort or even attempt to
understand the world the next generation envisions as their future. Brexit is a
palpable example of this disconnection.
Some values and norms remain constant while
others change because of technology and the changing world it is shaping. Life
in many ways is no longer as physically harsh as it was for early settlers, yet
for many it is more demanding and depleting.
Yet with summer, the majority of humanity
seeks bubbles of happiness. The opportunity to disconnect enables us to
reconnect with renewed energy, enthusiasm and fresh vision. The idiom “A change
is as good as a rest” contains much wisdom. Too often in the North American
drive for more, people forget to find time to explore a different place and
simply get away from it all. Discovering or rediscovering elements of our
heritage or childhood are rejuvenating and can create a bridge that connects
the generations.
Cycling everywhere. Floating down a river. Going
for long drives through the country. Watching a thunderstorm from the safety of
a car. Seeing what figures/shapes you can find in the clouds. Playing board
games. Naming constellations. Watching fireworks. Sitting around a campfire.
Making s’mores. All these things help reconnect us with childhood memories of
growing up in Canada. Repeating them again, hopefully builds a bridge providing
our children and grandchildren with similar, innocent moments. All these things
create a shared heritage unmatched by any technology.
In the midst of a world gone mad, it is
important to find places of grounding and connection, to recognize the value of
chasing summer bubbles. What we choose to do individually and collectively
makes a difference. We are only one decision away from creating a totally
different future for humanity. What will your choice be?
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