A Little Homework For The Christmas Holidays
Two years ago I wrote in this blog about Christmas during lock down.
Reading it back again recently, there were sadly very few positives to be shared and my rather mixed emotions at the time were clearly evident. But despite the melancholy feel and general “greyness” I was still able to believe that things would eventually get better.
I wrote not just of pandemic fears and frustrations but also of the political chaos at that time. And of course, whilst the pandemic crisis itself has evolved and allowed us all to live a little differently now from how we were in 2020, the political chaos seems to have become firmly entrenched both here in the UK and around the world.
Today, in 2022, I fear that the world may be even more selfish and divisive than when I shared my views previously. It would also appear that many of us feel that we are being dragged down by negativity and distrust in general and of being manipulated and used by those in power.
To be fair, there is probably nothing especially new about feelings of negativity and manipulation when it comes to our leaders. It will have happened many times before in varying degrees over the years. But we always have a choice as to how we let it affect us and what actions we take to minimise the impact.
And that, perhaps more than anything else, is the message that we should all take home and work on this Christmas.
That simple but important decisions we take can still make a difference.
To take a more balanced view of the world. To limit, or even dismiss completely, the level of media output that we personally consume. To avoid the divisive urges and triggers that we are all encouraged to act on in our everyday lives. And to remind ourselves more often that kindness still exists all around us in our local communities.
And then, hopefully, we will be more able to cope with any chaos until it does, inevitably, burn itself out.
