Postmortem: this is a new era of abject institutional failure, class warfare, racism, sexism, climate change and economic meltdown. Emotions like joy, hope and love are diminishing in correlation to the rise of anger, hate, and cynicism. There is a constant tension in the air, it's palpable in even the smallest of interactions. Leadership is extinct and all we can do is dig for fossils of guidance from those before us — and the nostalgia only creates stagnation.
But it's okay to feel scared, to hurt and to grieve right now. The fear you are feeling is an opportunity for courage. Do not run from it — just be there. If you want a better, more conducive world, YOU have to build it. And it's done with every interaction, transaction, reaction... ACTION that you make — everything matters, everything has an impact. Civilization is not a noun, it's a verb made up of trillions of micro-verbs.
We have to work harder than we ever thought we would. Strain your muscles, callous your hands, blister your feet, sweat and bleed. And you have to sometimes do it apropos of nothing, not always understanding where you're going. We've let intelligence harden us, so be actively kind, compassionate and benevolent. Be more than just conscious of others, practice empathy and humility. In the long run, cruelty will never lead to a greater prosperity. Start building something with endurance, something better.