FRIDAY 13TH, MARCH 2020

Friday the 13th. It is the start of the apocalypse, the end is nigh and the future we had collectively hoped for, is all but destroyed.... Yada, Yada...

My company is heading into the abyss of the Corona virus, with international travel bans and very restricted guidelines for internal movement, based on the decisions of the government. They haven't enacted martial law yet, but a global pandemic does open the gateway and that means that there would be the potential for things like curfews being imposed, as well as other restrictions on movement and options.

Whether hype or not - it is super annoying.

I was speaking at distance with a colleague today who has had to cancel a few things and is hoping insurance covers it. I know the feeling. My wife bought me tickets to Ricky Gervais in Copenhagen for Christmas, and with only 4 weeks til we are meant to travel, it doesn't look good. It would have been our first trip and weekend away together in four years. Then there is the likelihood of crashing house prices, meaning we will struggle with the renovation loan portion, material shortages, food considerations - social restrictions...

It feels like the universe is conspiring against me. Me personally. Funny, isn't it?

None of this is personal and I understand that of course, but when affected directly, it is me who feels it. While everyone is in the same boat to varying degrees, I think that it is easy to feel that it is only me who is impacted and as a result, get the sense that it is a personal attack, that something is unfair about the situation. It is worse because I know that all in all, I am in a much better relative situation than many in the world and the worst in Finland wouldn't seem pretty good to someone living in a different country.

But, it relative is the operative concept, as we evaluate things from what we know and our experience, and it matters little what other people are going through. Should we feel bad about this, or is it just the way humans work, since we are the center of our own universes and everything is related to the central point of control, or lack thereof as the case may be.

I tend to lean toward it being a natural reaction, as we cannot feel what we do not know and cannot consider. I do however wish that those out there struggling relative to their own normal did not have to endure pain or suffering, but that is just not going to happen - at least any time soon.

Most of my complaints are first world problems, issues that many others would find insignificant in their own lives if living in my shoes with their experience. I know this, I know that I am spoiled for choice, spoiled healthcare, spoiled for security and stability of society in Finland. The drama over the hoarding of toilet paper in Australia must look ridiculous to those who have struggled for basic foods in their life. Perhaps it is a good thing to wake us up to just how good we have it, most of the time.

My father grew up in a little village that was occupied during World War Two and I wonder if the average response at that time would have been panic buying of what are essentially luxury items for many. He is turning 84 in a few months and has Alzheimer's, but I would assume that he would likely still exhibit more grit than most under adverse conditions. You know - suck it up.

Many of us have become soft, myself included. I think it is time to act on what I assume is an Australian expression and - Harden the fuck up.

Yep, people will die from this, people already have. While unpleasant to deal with, we are all going to end up in the same condition, it is just that we normally do not have to face the question of how we are going to be removed from existence. At least in this neck of the woods, at this particular point on the time line. Not too far back however, facing death was part of living life, as we were surrounded by it far more often as people had more children and the average life expectancy was significantly lower. We have been insulated from the face of death, removed from the consideration of our own - we all think we will live to a ripe old age - and beyond.

As I wrote in my last post, we have to accept what we can't control, act upon what we can. Each decision made or not made is an active choice that affects our future, and while mistakes can be made and life can go awry - we each do the best we can, with what we have.

What are the three most valuable resources you have available to you right now?

Mine:

• my thoughts
• my work ethic
• my belief that the world can improve

I think I will keep working toward a better world.

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]