By Mondell Keck | The Brookings Register
I am a self-described small moments kind of guy, a person who finds fulfillment in such banal things as a delighted smile quirking someones lips while they enjoy homemade apple pie, a parent chasing after a very mobile and spirited toddler or a puppy tumbling about whilst playing with its littermates.
After all, its the small moments that add up to make life more enjoyable and they can empower bigger things, too. Perhaps a vow to end a bad habit, or to begin a good one, or maybe even spur an ah-ha! moment that, given time, will lead to a better society.
Or maybe my thoughts are just helter-skelter. That happens occasionally with me, these moments of supposedly deep thinking, going from seeing just one tree to seeing the forest that its a part of. Especially when Im writing one of my once-in-a-blue-moon columns. I jump from here to there and back again, willy-nilly.
All that said, besides being into small moments, I also thoroughly enjoy NOT being the center of attention. Hmm. Which this column kind of does the exact opposite, doesnt it? Oh, well. Anyway, if you invite me to a social event, youre likely going to find me on its periphery. Oh, Im having fun; dont worry about that. But Im having even more fun watching the real, bona fide social butterflies flitting about in the spotlight. Better them than me. Were both in our natural habitat them at the heart of the fun and games and me on the outskirts looking in, with perhaps a soft drink in hand (yeah, Im a teetotaler, too).
Now for a 180-degree turn: Do you ever find yourself sometimes sitting on a bench, or in a restaurant or at a library, and watching traffic zip by? Yeah, thats me, too. I like to wonder what kind of days the motorists, bicyclists and runners are having. Great ones, having just been promoted at work or earned a raise, perhaps? Maybe frustrating, because having to deal with aches and pains is just that? Or just routine days of grocery shopping, bill paying and drudgery? As for any kiddos the motorists might have in the back seat, well, theyre probably just happy school is about to let out for a long summer of fun and sun (and sunburn, if theyre not careful).
That part about me being a non-drinker? I cant really explain why, other than its never really interested me. Sure, I have family, friends and colleagues who enjoy alcohol now and then I mean, an ice-cold brew is a natural part of summertime grilling or while watching or attending a sporting event but me? Nope. Keep it for yourself. Trust me, youll like it better than I would, and Im perfectly fine with my soft drink (or water). In fact, I can count on one hand the number of beers Ive had in my life, including one at a high school graduation party for a friend in the early 1990s (I am so dating myself here). What can I say? Peer pressure is a real thing, especially when youre a teenager. I cracked, but didnt shatter. No bucks for Busch, no siree!
I need to wrap this column up, and while Ive used humor and lightheartedness up to this point, I must turn serious for a just a moment.
The popular saying is, The world is an evil place.
No, it isnt. The world does what it does what its done for untold millions upon millions of years making it a place thats habitable not just for life, but the uniqueness that is human life, even in our billions upon billions of numbers.
No, the worlds just fine, thank you. But you know what really needs a lot of work?
Us. Humanity. Too many of us are fallible: Fearful. Angry. Jealous. Hateful. Short-sighted. Even worse? Some of us are intentionally so. And perhaps with 8 billion or so humans living at this very moment, maybe that shouldnt be a surprise the more the merrier (or un-merrier, as the case may be), right?
But if we dont get our act together sooner than later, were going to kill the world that gave birth to us, and well die right along with it.
Earth would eventually return to life, over the course of its millions of years. Humanity? Well, a species cant recover from being dead and fossilized. Just ask the dinosaurs. Oh, wait. You cant.
Over the course of life on our mother planet, roughly 99% of all species that have ever lived have died. Humanity likely wont be any different but we sure as hell dont need to speed up our collective date with obsolescence and extinction, yeah?
Thanks for bearing with me. May we all live long and prosper. Together.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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