Living In Interesting Times

“May you live in interesting times”, well interesting to say the least in these days fraught with global and individual uncertainty and insecurity! Picking up the newspaper on this -20 Celsius freezing cold morning my eye catches a number of headlines; “Poll: 1 in 4 Fear They'll Lose Jobs”, “Nuke Spill At Chalk River”, “Strike – A Hornets Nest For Ministers”, “My Dearest One, You've Been Scammed”, “Kids Used to Kill, Rape”. OK, enough already, I haven't even brushed my teeth and I'm still in my pyjamas.

During these interesting times, while many of us have been hit hard due to the worst economic downturn since the great depression, of the pandemic our media keeps warning us of, the “climate change” fearful environmentalists are warning us about, more terrorists threats to our very lives, and my car won't start (hopefully simply due to the extreme cold and not an engine breakdown), it's time to get dressed and face the day. The fact is, the sun is rising, it's a new day, there are things to be done, people to see, and places to go. The busy reality of everyday life is calling me.

As these interesting times unfold, we are being asked to embrace, “the change we need”. We are being solicited to be active participants in the creation of “the change”. Ah, now that I'm washed, dressed and putting the finishing touches on my hair I wonder; “what are the changes expected of me, and how do I implement them”?

“May you live in interesting times”, is echoing through my mind. I once heard that this curse is also believed to be a translation of a Chinese saying which translates to, “the times produce heroes”. Hmm hero I ponder as I pour my cereal into the white bowl with pink pigs on it. I crunch down on my cereal, sip my juice, and I'm wondering what a hero really is.

Research suggests:

A person distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility and strength. OK, I can do courage and strength, nobility well, we can rule that one out, although I do remember a few times when someone said to me, “suck it up princess”.

A principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem. Hm, in William Shakespeare's “As You Like It”, it is said; “All the World's a stage, and all the men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” Oh great, this is all an illusion?!

A large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split length wise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments), sounds much more interesting than my cereal, lunch is in just a few hours off, I think I know what I'm having.

Scooping the last bits from my bowl and taking a final swig of juice I'm ready to try and start the car engine once again. Putting on my winter jacket imagining it as my shield against the -20 Celsius elements, placing my wool hat on, you know the helmet against freezing to death, and holding my car keys firmly in my hand as I navigate the icy and treacherous path to my not so trusty car, hmm, I'm feeling very courageous. Ah ha, the car deity is toying with me, the car still won't start. OK, well it's still cold, I'll just wait and hope, and wait and hope, and hope some more.

A couple of hours have passed, the *#+ car still won't start. Everyone is still being hit hard due to the worst economic downturn since the great depression, we are still awaiting the pandemic our media keeps warning us of, the “global warming” is frightfully freezing out there. The sun has risen, the day hours are passing, very little has been done, haven't seen anyone yet, and without the car working I'm not getting anywhere either! The most I've accomplished at this time is to think about what could be, what isn't, when the heck it will be, and oh, for goodness sake, can we get the engine going so I can just get on with my life.

It's high noon and our last attempt with trying to start the car engine. Team work on a shared quest, my husband Mark is taking his turn. With a game plan in mind, experiential mileage, exceptional optimism, courage and strength he leaves the warmth of our home to brave the elements. Inserting his key, he turns a practiced wrist and with a sputter and a whine, the engine finally engages. Wow, my hero!

I'm struck with the metaphor of life on Planet Earth this morning has been. Things are really challenging out there. There is intolerance, violence, cruelty, illness, and the economic engine seems completely stalled. But, with good thinking, lessons learned from experience, optimism, courage, strength and teamwork, together we can get on with the business of life and the life of business as the sun rises on a new day, when we have things to do, people to see, and places to go.