It's the End of the World As We Know It And I Feel Fine (And You Can Too)
Image Credit Michael Smith, Circa 2008
Although it's been over 30 years since R.E.M. stormed the airwaves with the campy hit, It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine, for some reason, it keeps playing in my head. Who knew back in the blissful '80s that this could have been the anthem of 2020? The year brought more than we could have imagined, pandemic aside- social unrest, conspiracy theories abound, and of course, the looming end of days.
This is a delicate conversation, no doubt, we are talking doomsday here. But, for me, that's old hat. That's my past. Yes, it sounds crazy- how could the end of the world be my past? Let me explain. For nearly 10 years, my husband and I lived on a 200+ acre property with my family in rural Tennessee. It was our little compound; my parents, grandparents, sister were all safely protected from the world's dangers. We had our own homes, but the property was fitted with a large and fully stocked underground bunker for when the time came. In short, I'm familiar with the topic.
The constant, imminent fear of what was to surely destroy all who were unknowing or unprepared was always present. My father was convinced we had to be ready - there were family meetings to discuss the latest threat to our survival. If it wasn't solar flares, it was the collapse of the economy. And if it wasn't either of those, then the Yellowstone Super Volcano was only a matter of time. Nuclear warfare, natural disasters, alien invasion, or a global pandemic- the list of potential candidates never seemed to end. It was terrifying.
We respected my father immensely because he was remarkable, brilliant, and commanding in almost every regard. I believed everything he said, without equivocation, for years. I would have blindly followed him into a fire. But we didn't all see things the same as he did. This became an area of contention in my marriage; it was the beginning of a breaking point.
The time and energy put towards preparing for doom was not a way to live. It was death waiting to happen, a life of fear. We were surviving, not thriving. While we were so busy worrying about the end, we weren't living in the present. We didn't have lives and certainly not social ones. We were, well, I was, a hermit. My husband went out of town as often as possible until he was just gone.
Our marriage nearly ended. I mean, it was hanging by a thread. We were a signature away from divorce. At the time, having to choose between my family and my husband felt like the end of my world. It was one of the most challenging decisions, but my father actually helped make it. When asked for his counsel, he only asked one question, "what lifestyle do you want?" He knew it no longer mattered if the world was actually to end but what we would do with the time while we were here. We ended up leaving Tennessee and moving to Florida to reset our marriage. There is more to that story, but that's for another day.
I'm grateful for the experience, the lessons, even the survival skills. It was a time that showed us who we are and who we choose to be. My father taught me many things before he passed away in 2017. The most valuable, the viewpoint that we get to choose our interpretations; it's all in how we see it.
These days, our doomsday plan consists of getting to the top of the Eiffel Tower, watching with champagne in hand.
I'm not suggesting to be unprepared for emergencies or to ignore potential threats. I share my experience to help those who may be hooked by the fear of it all. I offer another interpretation. Maybe the world is ending, or perhaps it's changing. Possibly what is coming to a close is the world as we know it. Change brings forth progress and growth. It might be time for what we've known to expire and our new potential to arise.
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
The world is noisy. Everywhere, everyone wants you to agree, disagree, buy, like, share, subscribe, believe, cancel, etc.… We are bombarded with information all day. News, social media, other people's opinions- it's not healthy. It chips away at us slowly. We are so influenced by what we consume that we don't even think our own thoughts anymore; we regurgitate. It is called a 'feed,' after all.
Change your mental diet and manage what influences you. Tune out the external. Take a social media break. I intentionally don't have the Apps on my phone, so it isn't a regular part of my day.
Surround yourself with people that paint your world with vibrant colors. Choose influences that support your well-being.
Do prepare for emergencies. Access your situation and determine the level of preparedness that works for your comfort. Ideally, have an emergency fund with several months of living expenses saved. Set it all up, and then forget about it. Move on, sleep at night, knowing you did your part, and the rest is up to the rest. Now go live!
3. Remember the Basic Needs of Man- Keep It Simple
This was pretty evident in the early days of the pandemic - we all scrambled to get plenty of food, water, and for some reason, toilet paper. Aside from that, there's air, nutrients, and light. Then, shelter, which says nothing about a pool, a gazebo, or a guest house. When we stop and boil it down, life is pretty simple. We just make it complicated. If you have the basic needs, be grateful.
4. Watch Life is Beautiful
This year changed us, altered our perspective. We see things differently now. What if we have the power to change what we see regardless of the circumstances? Watch the film Life Is Beautiful (La vita è Bella) for serious inspiration. Based on a true story. If, when forced into a Nazi concentration camp, Guido can create a game out of the holocaust for his son, then we can make something out of anything.
Metaphorically speaking, of course.
Janis Joplin sang, "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose." Let those words sink in. We have to put it all on the line, release all attachments to people, things, expectations, and the image we or others have of us. When we can let go of all of this, then we are free.
As scary as it was to leave our life in Florida before moving into the ole R.V., it was also liberating. Getting rid of the stuff, the headaches, the bills, the trappings of a life in SoFL….stripping ourselves of everything we thought we knew to go on a journey of discovery. The song Burn It Down by AWOLNATION motivates me to throw caution to the wind and say F*ck it all.
We are here one time, and who knows for how long. What are you waiting for?
Learn more about our journey @ www.theodyssee.com
