Secrets and Hope in Our Mad World

Early in 2017 I read George Marshall’s book ‘Don’t Even Think About It: Why We are Wired Not to Think About Climate Change’ and I decided I would think about it. And I would read about it. Then I would write about it.

I write as a 'non-expert' and I'm hoping that your comments will help me to see whether the insights I've

gained make sense, whether the conclusions stack up and whether it's realistic for me to start feeling

hopeful about the future .

Today's Rant

Rarely a day passes when I don't find something to rant about and today's came in an advertising supplement in the Guardian.  A beer company has published a 'Rich List' which gives info about the lives of people who have given up material consumption because they've found that more stuff doesn't make them happy and are finding a much more fulfilling life in 'experiences'. What really got me going was the claim that 'there's a richness to life that has nothing to do with money'.  Now I reckon that was written by someone who has money.  They find a really fulfilling life by such experiences as treking through the Amazon rain forest, marine photography, horse whispering and cave exploring.   If - like millions of people in the UK today - you struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over your head it is much more difficult to go in search of these fulfilling 'experiences'.  Not to mention, of course, the damage to the environment of people flying off to far corners of the globe.  It might well be that some people who have had cash beyond their basic needs have found that excessive 'stuff' doesn't make them happy and have now moved on to experiences but to say that such a lifestyle has nothing to do with money just shows how very out of touch with the lives of the less well-off the rich are.

1 comment:

  1. Really good stuff! Your writing is so very readable. You have a rare talent. Your words flow from the page straight into my understanding, like going to holy communion!

    Signed: an appreciative admirer.

    ReplyDelete

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