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Do you ever get the feeling the world is like the Titanic, about to experience a great catastrophe? Do you agree with Sir Cadogan in Harry Potter?
Have a stout heart, the worst is yet to come.
I sometimes feel that way, but I was also frightened when I was a kid by the threat of nuclear war with the U.S.S.R. I can still remember the feeling of terror after watching a public service announcement on TV. It vividly showed what an attack would be like.
That particular threat is long gone, of course, so who knows what the future will bring? It doesn’t make much sense to ruin the present moment worrying about things we have no control over.
What do you think?
I generally don’t worry. The doom-and-gloom folks are generally out-to-lunch.
Mike,
I agree. When I was working at the national lab there were periodic RIFs (reductions in force). Some people spent a lot of time worrying and talking about the latest rumors. Others kept working and getting things done. It was clear which ones had the greatest chance of keeping their jobs, or else finding a new one sooner if they lost them.
How can one think when one is worrying? I do worry, but become conscious of it and switch tracks to stop it. Since reading Matt Ridley’s The Rational Optimist, I have stopped even thinking about global disasters.
Rummuser,
Yes, the quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention.
It depends…
You knew I was going to say that, Jean!
I have few worries right now but they don’t seem as bad as a national disaster so I will leave them in “pending” mode until I see the top of the pyramid and make a decision on where the mode goes to then…
90% of the time, especially right now is good…I’m enjoying life again at the schoolyard (it took a while with all the teething problems) and I am researching interesting topic for a forthcoming essay 🙂
The disasters is happening. We wealthy westerners are insulated from it. The best (only?) preparation is strong networks
Cathy,
I’m glad things are going well for you now. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue for a long time!
Evan,
I’m afraid I’m not as sanguine as you are, but I hope you’re right. I’d feel a lot safer if the U.S. wasn’t so heavily in debt. Andy and I are savers, unfortunately the politicians aren’t. 😉