The world is changing at a faster pace than before. Change can be good and bad, which are value terms and subjective. Change is inevitable and resilient and adaptive people are going to do just fine, no matter what, so I am trying to embrace it the way I can.
The recent change I am talking about is obviously related to the virus crisis. The economic, social and cultural decadence it has brought about or accelerated, is quite remarkable. An unprecedented and thoroughly unexpected historical event, which had an impact on me and a much bigger impact on my family and friends in Italy, UK and around the world.
So what? It’d be easy to just cry and blame it for inertia or, even worse, a slip into nihilism and I will be honest with you, I had the psychological version of the virus at least twice in the past year. At least twice, I let my nervous system lose its positive vibe and I fell into frustration, anger and depression.
Each time I thoroughly delved into the various alternative views and even conspiracy theories, some of which made perfect sense, but had the terrible side effect of disempowering me, leaving me sad and low. I came to the conclusion, over and over again, that the panic, emergency powers taken by governments and subsequent draconian measures were totally out of proportion. There must be something else, something behind it, something dark, not just a sign of increased cultural and political decadence. Maybe. And so what? What am I actually going to do about it?
I then thought about my grandfathers, when in the late 1930s were faced with the unenviable choice of joining Mussolini’s army or running into the bushes, becoming de-facto deserting fugitives and subjected to martial law. That was the culmination of 2 decades of increased oppression, reduction of freedom and authoritarian control. Both my grandparents were opposed to fascism ideologically and yet, they had very little choice but to comply with the majority and follow orders.
One of them ended up, at the end of the war, in a Nazi camp in Northern Germany. Terrible experience and yet he survived it. In that light, I can handle no international travel for one year, 2 months of soft lockdown in Koh Phangan and my retreat centre being temporarily closed. Change I don’t like, obviously, but what alternative is there anyway?
An economic hitch and lack of meaning for a few months came with a feeling of uncertainty and lots of procrastination. And then, last October, my full strength came back and I started to go online very meaningfully with my business. I signed up to theatre class again, read more science fiction novels and ate really awesome and healthy food, even more than before. I survived the virus and the change it brought about.
Routine is comforting. I love to wake up, go for a beach walk or do some Yoga or breathwork followed by 20 minutes of meditation. If I am eating breakfast, this needs to be warm oat porridge and fresh fruit. I love my morning routine and I can get a bit grumpy if, for whatever reason, I unexpectedly have to change it.
Most people have plans for the future. We need intention and a project or two to get us going, keep us grounded. Losing direction is mortifying. I love knowing I am working towards the manifestation of a dream, a lifestyle, something bigger than my current self. It might be an illusion, yet it’s a useful illusion. And then, unexpected change comes and throws everything out, but that’s life.
There are two realms of action I like to distinguish, the microcosm and the macrocosm. I am fully responsible for the manifestation of the microcosm or at least for my behaviour towards my immediate environment. The relationship with my girlfriend, parents and close friends. The way I treat my body and mind. Beside practicing meditation, I stopped reading the news regularly some 5 years ago and I very much control and limit exposure to social media and popular media. I feed my mind with smart and useful or thoroughly funny and high quality stuff (I love comedy). My way of eating and how much I move the body is awesome now and it took me quite a few years to reach this level of health and wellbeing. It is a pleasure and source of satisfaction in itself.
As for the macrocosm… What can I do against the manifestation of populism? The huge, media induced, politicisation and polarisation of the masses? The increasing power tech companies and governments are currently claiming on the human race? The effects of climate change or indeed the draconian measures of Covid?
Short of being an activist, and I am not, Eastern philosophy suggests a healthy measure of detachment. I have ideas and even opinions on the various macro-affairs, I communicate and even debate them with close friends. I go as far as writing a blog post or two highlighting the narrow minded and old fashioned way the pharma industry and associated establishment look at healthcare. I feel I can state junk food manufacturers have too much influence on the media and culture hugely contributing to obesity and disease, but I stop there. Something useful to me, this small blog is just a modest contribution to influence the manifestation of the macrocosm, a healthy outlet for my ideas and model of the world.
Conspiracy theories? They do not serve me. Trolling on social media? A waste of time and good energy. Change is happening and I can either futilely resist it or simply embrace it and make the most of the now and the few years I have left on this planet.
Life is change, Osho once said. There is only one thing permanent, and that is change. Except change, everything else changes. To accept this nature of life, to accept this changing existence with all its seasons and moods, this constant flow that never stops for a single moment, is to be blissful. Then nobody can disturb your bliss.
This is a wonderful attitude, not only in the face of lockdowns but also in the context of old age, or anything else really. This way I will never become a “grumpy old man”, as with the right attitude, a frailer body and less physical or mental energy can be compensated by a bigger Soul. A bigger Soul can compensate for any material disappointment, really, even the extremes of a totalitarian regime experienced by Dr. Frankl or my grandparents. Fear of the unknown is the only real enemy, the only real disease.
And here I am, embracing change. I am currently making a very meaningful investment in my online business (soon to be shown!). My YouTube channel is a lot of fun, I meditate like never before and I have taken on a second theatre project, a musical where I will be the lead male actor. All good for the Soul. Right now I feel I am ready, whatever comes, I am resilient and ready. Are you?