‘How do we live in this terrible world?’

The title of my blog is extracted from a column dated December 20 by Jonathan Freedland, a columnist and the host of The Guardian, UK’s Politics Weekly America podcast. Although himself an active source of quality news and insightful comments, he suggests that people could start living by reducing “social media consumption” and “overexposure to bad news.”

We can all agree the daily dose of news and social media tsunamis serve to unsettle us and cause angst. Yet, we willingly contribute to the barrage by (re-)forwarding cliches as new-age gospel originating, often from shady authors, whose knowledge and quoted resources remain questionable. ‘Gian’ (knowledge, often mistakenly appropriated as wisdom) and ‘life lesson counselling’ are also simultaneously being provided. Recipients may not even read what they forward, wishing only to be noticed as an ‘active’ member contributing to ‘intellectual deliberations’.

At the same time, we actively look for ‘feel-good’ stories. Clips demonstrating kindness and compassion that provide comfort and offer hope are also readily circulated. It is encouraging news that 79% of Canadians reportedly volunteered in the survey year (to March 2024). Formal volunteers contributed an average of 131 hours each, totaling almost 1.7 billion volunteer hours annually. Other countries also show similar or better results. So, not all is lost and there is hope for mankind.

To highlight personal acts of consideration and care, in an earlier blog I had recounted an anecdote about an English lady in her late 80s, living alone. She would write a birthday card each day and mail it to extend her best wishes and message of love. Friends and family members got used to receiving such “untimely” good wishes and humored her, attributing these actions to her growing senility. One day a niece who was visiting, asked her why she had been sending out cards to people when it was not their birthday. The lady smiled and said the occasion did not matter, it was just her way of connecting with an individual and letting him/her know that on that particular day she was thinking of them.

Recently, a similar incident occurred closer to home. An eight-year old lad wished to create a special birthday card for his grandmother in Hindi, a language that is alien to him. He carefully thought about what he wanted to state. Then, using a suitable internet browser he searched out the Hindi equivalent of each English word in his mind, noting the special Font in Devnagari script used for writing in Hindi. Finally, and with utmost patience, he copied each Hindi letter from the Font on his computer screen to assemble complete words in Hindi and painstakingly wrote them out in his special card. Concept. Focus. Diligence. Execution.

Notwithstanding the generational and geographic differences that produced the two sets of birthday cards described here, the underlying rationale for the creation of each card is emblematic of all that is good and intrinsic in human nature. Thoughtful. Compassionate. Caring. Loving.

So, while Lady Macbeth used the expression in a different context, it is gratifying that the ‘Milk of Human Kindness’ continues to flow.

I agree with Jonathan Freedland’s concluding remarks in his column about looking at our world “… Perhaps by accepting that it’s the only one we have and that it’s not always so terrible – that sometimes, even quite often, it can be rather beautiful.”

It is said that life is a series of choices. We can drift through life, using available choices as excuses. Or, we can consciously opt for choices that will help us live a fulfilling and happier life.

This kaafi by the Sufi philosopher poet Bulle Shah might come handy in deciding how we could choose to live contently in this world and help to dispel gloom and despair:

Oye Bulleya, Rabb tethon vakhh nahin,	O’ Bulla, God is not detached, but resides within you
O’ tainuun taiiyyon dendaa kakkh nahin,	You are not provided that which you desire
O’ teri vekhan vaali akkh nahin	(Only) because you lack the vision to seek

Compliments of the Season and best wishes for a safe, healthy and peaceful Year future ahead.