Disconnected from the incessant, vitriol-filled mutterings by news agencies, social media outlets, and outraged individuals, a neighbor waived to me as I passed by her on the way to the Villages. Without a thought or effort, I waived back.
As I drove to Safeway to pick up a few items, I noticed other cars stopping alongside me at a red light. We waited for the light to turn green and we proceeded to our destinations unaffected by each other. After I arrived, a car paused to let me cross the thoroughfare safely to the entrance of the store. Once inside, a clerk greeted me with a smile and asked if I needed help finding something. I thanked him for asking and went about my shopping.
On the way home, I stopped into the post office to send a package out. Inside, there was a short line of people waiting to be served. Behind the counter were three workers fulfilling the needs of the customers in front of them. Like the others before me, I left once my request had been completed. Politics, war, religion never intruded into our business.
I passed restaurants, gas stations, banks, office buildings, and an array of retail shops. I knew people were inside each of those doing their jobs and providing services to other people. Regardless of having brown skin, being Muslim, far right/left or whatever the adjective-du-jour is attempting to separate us, personal/business transactions occur around the world, daily, peacefully.
So despite all the noise created by politicians, social media influencers, YouTubers, radio talk shows, podcasts, comedians, shock-jocks, the multitude of self-proclaimed experts/prophets, and even some clergy, much of our society still functions as we expect it to. I know there are more good people in the world than “bad.” The fact we haven’t devolved into utter chaos proves this. There are some who would see the world burn so a new one can rise. That’s the thinking of a child. The world is far too complex. And, the blue marble we all live on is too small for such nonsense. Besides, it will still be here long after we’re gone. Here’s a fun fact, there are no human habitable planets within our reach, distance or lifetime (good luck with Mars, Elon).
Though it seems impossible sometimes, we must continue to focus on the things we can control and allow the ones we can’t to pass by like clouds in the sky. I rest easy knowing the sun will rise again tomorrow.
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