Every Problem is an Opportunity in Disguise

Day after endless day, my youngest son sits dealing with this new reality.  His mind can’t comprehend that life has essentially changed, there is no normal to get back to.  The biological world has released it’s soldiers against human expansion.  The modern world calls it utilizing resources, but in reality what’s happening is that the human race has run out of room.  Do we yield a part of this planet to its non-human inhabitants, or do we do battle against the ecological world?  All my son knows is that his Boy Scout troop meets on-line, his school work comes from a website, and his daily routine is repetitive and boring.

The problem is clear: we must learn, accept, and grow.  The outdated idea of the city is showing its shortcomings, a petri dish of infection and disease.  When 8 million people live on top of each other in massive sky scrapers, move through the same transit system, and walk on crowded streets, it was only a matter of time that this occurred.  Also, we have shown the absolute folly of manufacturing all necessary goods, medicines, technology, and a vast array of other items in the foreign countries we compete with.  China has changed massively in the last 20 years, and with that change they can take advantage of the new world we all live in.  Unfortunately, the Chinese need the Americans and the Americans need China.

The problem is the solution! I believe every element is here for us to take advantage of this opportunity in disguise.  If the problem is that both the Chinese and American governments fail to help individuals while only propping up large corporations, then we must act to preserve ourselves.  I tell my son that each day is an opportunity and you need to find out how you can be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.  So if food is the problem worldwide, then growing as much as possible seems like a good solution.  Free time is only a problem if you waste it - if you use it productively, there is never enough of it.

How do we encourage growth while eliminating waste?  The world we live in produces junk, a lot of junk!  We waste, consume, and discard without thought of where our garbage goes when it leaves us.  There is a worldwide compulsion to use and then junk anything we don’t like or need.  Every country in the world has massive garbage dumps where millions of tons are buried every day.  Why?  It was cheaper so why not?  The fact is that it is only cheaper at the start. In the end, the damage caused by toxic waste far exceeds any savings from dumping trash.  So waste is waste, right? No! Everything can be considered a resource and, with the right process, everything can be reused, reduced, and recycled.  Unfortunately, just like with my son, I can’t make the world change its behavior because I think I have a solution. 

For any process, skill, or activity to matter, an individual must believe in what they are doing.  Oh sure, I can ask my son to do yard work, clean his room, read a book, or use his time well.  The truth is without him wanting to do it for himself, I can’t make it rewarding.  Right now, we possess the technology to process much of our home and business waste locally.  If only towns, counties, states, and regions understood that the costs go down in the long run when you process your own waste.  When waste becomes a resource, then local manufacturing could be a new reality.  By utilizing the current technology and equipment, most reprocessed materials could be used to manufacture many of the items needed locally, stopping the need to go to China or India for most goods.  This would be good for everyone and much cleaner, too.

I explain to my son that daily exercise is part of being a healthy person.  I show him how most Americans are overweight and that causes many life and health problems.  People are addicted to their smart devices and game systems nowadays, and it seems that the act of spending a whole day just playing one game is an acceptable use of time.  In my gamer heydays, I never played more than a few hours before I wanted to go out and do something.  My need for activity always made me a good athlete, but my kids don’t have this instinct.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to game and I will spend hours doing it even now, but my days are full of other activities, or I go nuts! How can I convince him or the world that being in motion is healthy and that every day is an opportunity to be active.  The benefits quickly show themselves, after a single month of exercising, the result is transformational. But how do I get them to stick with things for a month at a time?

There is no limit for the love I feel for my family, and each day I find that helping them be as happy and productive as possible is a noble and rewarding activity.  I wish that the sleeping world could wake up to this.  Each day is a chance, an observation, a gift.  Every minute, every second, every moment of life can be used to be alive.  So the world has changed.  Yes, change is scary, but it is a new opportunity never seen before.  Take it and make it yours. Without personal involvement and focus, time is just a burden and not a gift.  Live love and it will return to you tenfold - but just not how you expect. That’s life!

My window to another world

Each morning I wake at dawn.  I listen to the morning music made by the birds outside my window.  In an orchestral glory, a myriad of songs erupt from the feathered musicians tweeting their daily anthem.  In my mind, they call to me to wake and rejoice, a new day is here and there isn’t a minute to waste.  Slowly, I make my way downstairs to  look out the large window in my living room.  Each morning, I’m greeted by swooping, foraging, and singing.  It’s like the birds knew I would be there and that the show is on!

I first thing I see are the Robins.  These friendly birds with their rust colored chests, are always looking for worms and hopping around with a joyous prance.  These birds seem to say hello and to like my presence.  They are ever present when I garden, always a few steps away to grab the tasty morsels unearthed by my work.  The Robins act grateful for my work and give me a sweet song for my effort.  Each year, I become a bit more attached to these melodious birds, and I welcome them back each year. 

The yard is alive with birds, from morning through night.  Each bird has it’s time and schedule. The brilliant red Cardinal and his somber-colored mate attend the morning feeding.  They enjoy my fertile soil in my greenhouse and the other treats in my tiny ecosystem.  They act like royalty among the birds, with their bright beaks and loud song they see to be immune to the other coming and goings of the other inhabitants of the yard.  They perch with nobility and purpose, as if posing to be dramatic or artists.  Cardinals are certainly the most recognizable bird in the back, but not the ones.

Blue Jays come later in the morning.  These are some of the largest birds in the area and can be a bit territorial.  The Jay calls are loud and recognizable, and seem to be the lead singers when they join the bird chorus.  Swooping and chasing unwanted guests from the lush garden, these birds are the peace keepers of the yard with their stunning blue and black feathers.  The other birds of the yard seem to appreciate the efforts of the Jays and give them first crack at the bugs. 

The yard is full of other birds.  Starlings, House Sparrows, Grackles, Black Birds, Seagulls, but the ones that seem to enjoy the flower patches the most are the Mourning Doves.  These large lovely birds sing a beautiful cooing song and enjoy foraging for seeds and bugs.  When these birds take off, there wings make a unique slapping sound And because they travel in groups, the sounds are quite surprising as a flock swoops to the sky.  Doves are an important part of my backyard symphony, and they are dressed for the part. 

I do my part.  I have planted flowering trees that produce the fruit the birds like.  I have a large garden that exposes a ton of dirt, these worm hunting areas are favorites of my feathered friends.  I never use chemicals or any products that can cause harm to my bird neighbors.  All organic and all delicious!  The birds are my partners and I protect them from predators like stray cats, these animals are quickly chased from my yard, they are unwanted visitors! 

There are musicians in my backyard chorus that are unseen, but can be heard loud and clear.  At both dawn and dusk, the sound of telltale hooting can be detected.  I know there are barn owls in my area, but I never see them.  But their call is loud and clear, as if to tell the other owls that it’s time to hunt.  Another unseen resident of my backyard can be heard but never seen.  The rapid fire knocking of Woodpeckers punctuates the cacophony of bird calls.  There are three types of local Woodpecker, but they are extreme rare to see, but the knocking sound is unmistakable.

Yes, my windows show another world.  A world of natural beauty and seasonal change.  It is only through this seasonal cycle that we get to observe the great natural glory of life.  Now is the spring, and life is waking up and getting on with the bounty of the warmer months.  Birds are making nests, collecting food for new young, and living a life of endless flight.  The sheer majesty of birds has me smitten and most times all I can do is watch like this amazing ballet was staged just for me.  Take a moment and be part of the world around you and say good morning to all our feathered friends.

Dual Survival

I absolutely love the show “Dual Survival.” This program follows two survival experts playing out various scenarios where people get lost in the wilderness.  They are given various gear that they must make the most of in a survival situation.  The hosts are Joe and Matt: Joe, an ex-navy seal and an expert in wilderness survival and Matt, a hunter/gatherer who teaches others how to live off the land.  Together, the two guys make their way through different climates and environments.  They seek rescue and must survive along the way.

They forage for food, find and construct shelters, and basically do their best to stay alive in a hostile unknown location.  The show is riveting and I find the men’s basic acts for survival to be fascinating.  The idea is to stay mentally alert and to avoid stress and negative thinking.  The Navy Seal is gung-ho and is always thinking of how to get rescued- it is Joe’s main focus.  Matt takes his time and enjoys the wilderness, trying to find the best situation for survival and comfort.  The two clash sometimes, but they work well as a team and always give valuable information about how to deal with hostile conditions. 

They do more than live in the wild, they thrive!  The concept is to be knowledgeable about your surroundings and how to best utilize the resources you have around you.  From the top of a snow covered mountain to a bug filled rain forest, the show follows the adventures of these two wilderness guides.  I’m constantly struck by the ingenuity and skills used to live off the land.  Even in the dead of winter, they find valuable resources that aid in their survival.  More importantly, they never complain. Instead, they focus on vigilance and resources. 

Now, you are trapped in a familiar but unknown environment and you aren’t sure what the future holds?  Just last month, our apartments, homes, and local areas were a friendly place with limited danger and rich with resources that sustain life.  Today’s reality is far different.  Your dwelling is now your world.  Neighbors are potential threats and the simple act of earning money and buying goods has changed radically.  Time to go into survival mode!

Evaluate your situation first.  Take inventory and determine your safe pathways to replace needed resources.  Don’t panic, fear is normal and in some cases valuable, but at this first stage you need to quiet your mind and focus on survival activities.  Do not starve yourself, but don’t binge either.  Eat healthy and eat at the same times each day.  Plan your purchases and determine the most necessary food you will need for basic survival and health.  Figure out ways to get food at value prices and avail yourself of community outreach. Feel no shame - this is an important resource and it should be used if needed.

Your survival plan should be for 6 weeks, no less!  Time to take a personal inventory to see what is important and what is just folly and waste.  Stay informed and allow yourself the space to totally freak out!  This is crazy shit, it’s OK to be afraid.  Fear can’t kill you but maybe you will rethink some of your daily activities that increase your risk of getting sick.  Exercise will help alleviate some of the stress and keep your body functioning at its highest level.  Being healthy is the best defense against illness and a good diet is an essential part of that.  You must have some form of activity every day: without it, it’s easier to get sick and that allows your immunity to drop leaving you susceptible to Covid-19.

Do more than survive, thrive! Time can be a gift, use it well as I suspect this will be a once in a lifetime occurrence.  Make the most of your environment and find ways to improve your situation and your personal life.  Reconnect with those you had no time for, the fabric of society is made more colorful with love and sharing.  Take time to make yours and others lives better.