Connection and togetherness

I think about the turmoil in the world, fear, uncertainty, greed and hubris, and believe more connection and togetherness, more unity, is required. It begins within each of us through self-reflection and honesty, and through taking the ownership to extend it outwardly to others - The habit will form - like ripples on a pond.

- galenkp -

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I'm not able to solve the worlds' problems despite having a few ideas on how to deal with a few issues that would make a difference. I guess my methods would be a little heavy-handed, quite sudden and final, which might not be the right way to go...but how long can society decline before it meets the bottom and begins sinking into the slush, mud and slime found there and, finally, into oblivion?

I get it, many people want to, and do, hold hope that things will turn around and change will come, but are we doing enough, quickly enough? I'll hold my hand up high and say no we're not. You can disagree, I don't mind.

I don't know when the decline began

I wonder if the decline started the first time a caveman picked up a stick or rock and hit someone else with it because he wanted what that person had. I wonder if it began because humanity found cognitive thought and, therefore, greed. I guess, in that case, it began when the Neanderthal man began to evolve into who we are today, Homo Sapiens.

No matter when it began though, it continues today and I believe it may be is accelerating at an alarming rate.

Like I said above, I'm not able to solve the worlds' problems, I don't even know what they all are; I'm just a knucklehead after all...However I have a belief that we have never been more disconnected, in a human to human way, than ever before and that is partly responsible.

I'm not picking on social medias here, however it's through those that disconnection can come. I think it's because we see what our friends and family are doing online and feel we are connected rather than actually connecting in person. Just one aspect I guess.

Sure, we can reach across the world through social meadia and the internet and that can bring us a little "closer", but I know so many who live in close proximity and don't truly connect due to their connection on social media.

I'm sitting at a cafe writing this and, looking around, I see at least three couples sitting at their respective tables all on their respective phones and not engaging with the person across from them. Is that a valid connction?

Slowing it and turning it around

Can we stop the decline; in fact, can we even slow it down? Again, I'm not sure. I think that's a question we must each ask ourselves and then act upon the answer. I guess I'd have to say it's possible, but not probable though. I feel we can all make a difference however we'd need to see the problems, acknowledge that they're there, and then take some steps. It's those first steps that each of us are able to make because, in my opinion, they need to happen internally, within each of us, before moving outward.

We all have the ability to evaluate our thoughts and actions and, if we choose to, can change our attitudes, improve them, and then push them outwardly through our behaviours and actions. If enough of us do it, those attitudes and actions begin to touch others and, if repeated over and over, connection and togetherness can result. With enough doing this...well, I think that'd start to move things in the right direction.

I'll be honest and say I think society, humankind is doomed. I'm not saying now, next week or year, but nothing lasts forever. I also think we can't continue in the same way we are now for very long without disasterous results in the future and I don't think enough is being done, by anyone.

Sure, there's some focus on climate change and renewable energy, but money still rules the day on that front and change is painfully slow. What about people though? What are we doing to promote connection and togetherness between humankind and a better place for all of us to call home? Is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and the like promoting it...or are they there to make the super-wealthy more wealthy at the expense of society, and people feel connected, but they actually aren't? I don't know the answer and neither do you I suppose. We can surmise however.

We can certaibly all make a decision to take the actions that will promote a little more connection and togetherness between ourselves and those around us and if done enough, maybe humankind might buy a little more time.

What are your thoughts on the situation and what steps are you taking to self-reflect, maintain or change your attitude or create better social-habits, relationships, and connections?