Good morning,
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
I’ve thinking about the complexities of the seemingly insurmountable issues that we face—from climate change to racial relations to economic challenges to limited resources, as well as the political and philosophical disagreements we have. It seems overwhelming. How do we comprehend, much left deal with, the enormity of the problems in the world?
It came to me last month in preparing the various holiday gifts for the many people who in some way help us in our lives—the mail delivery person, the Sparkletts man, the dry cleaner, the gardener, and myriad others. At the holidays, we perform acts of kindness simply because of the time of year. In the tiny act of gifts for the holidays we touch individual lives. It feels good.
And that got me thinking about how we can each conquer the world’s problems. It’s not by sitting around at lunch debating tax policy or programs, nor is it in donating to candidates and causes (well, maybe a little…). Of course, we should be donating to nonprofit organizations and religious institutions that perform services to communities in need. But perhaps the best thing we can do is to do something kind for one person—even if just once a month. And so that’s my mantra for 2022. Each month, I’m going to consciously try to do something for a random person—someone whom I may never see again. Whether it’s a meal, a cup of coffee, a smile and a few dollars, providing some college counseling to a young kid, but something for which thanks is unlikely but the joy of the act will be sustaining enough.
One person at a time. You have to begin someplace. Please join me in this simple goal.
DON’T LOOK UP
Andrea and I saw this movie last month. Don’t Look Up is a great comedy starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and America’s latest teen heartthrob, Timothee Chalamet. This Adam McKay effort also has a strong supporting cast—but it’s not all laughs. While ostensibly about a comet rushing toward the earth, it is really about populism, misplaced priorities, celebrity culture, alternative facts, partisan news, craven politicians, and the inability to see the forest for the trees. The greatest part of the message, however, is crystal clear—just as a comet is scientifically demonstrated to be headed toward earth, eventually coming into eyesight when it may be too late—the same holds true for the slow, yet demonstrable, catastrophe of climate change.
The incremental decline in environmental quality is much like the adage of “the power of compounding.” Just as one doesn’t want to get one’s credit card bill to unreasonable heights, the bill will come due. If we keep “spending,” through the spewing of poisons into our atmosphere, the problem will continue to compound. At this point, our response to increased weather calamities, drought and pollution will not be limited to reductions in pollutants and conservation but must include dealing with the inevitable costs of our actions.
McKay, by the way, was the director of The Big Short, another “don’t miss” film.
OTHER WORDS OF THE YEAR
Oxford University Press says the word of the year is “Vax.” This is consistent with Merriam Webster’s designation of “vaccine.”
Dictionary.com breaks with the other major reporters, designating “allyship.” Here’s the definition:
allyship (noun): the status or role of a person who advocates and actively works for the inclusion of a marginalized or politicized group in all areas of society, not as a member of that group but in solidarity with its struggle and point of view and under its leadership.
Best,
Glenn
From the archives:
Self-nominating for your February good deed: golf at Hillcrest? 😇