How do you maintain your equanimity? Where do you draw the line between your personal existence and the world at large? Why is it so important to prioritize your internal balance and well-being?

You and I live on the same planet as everyone else. You have your daily concerns, passions, and creative pursuits, and so do I. Your personal priorities and responsibilities are undoubtedly different than mine, but we both have them.

At the same time, you, me, and everyone else we know lives under an informational atmosphere that reflects the happenings of the world, both near and far. Some of us, for whatever reason, are able to tune things out entirely, for better of worse.

For this of us who prefer top pay attention, what we tune in to can be a matter of personal preference if we want to do the work. Or we can choose the easy way and see what the various algorithms of our information channels of choice decide to serve up to us.

This cloud of content that exists just outside of our personal space is just within reach. Some of it is fiction, drawn from the imagination of creatives in books, films, and games. Some of it relates to our hobbies are creative pursuits. And some of it is factual news from distant events that can be quite disturbing to dwell upon.

When horrible things are happening to folks just like you, it’s only natural to take on the trauma vicariously. Taken to an extreme, this can paralyze you. You have to remember to breathe. The dance of life in dangerous times is knowing how to protect your well-being in your personal space while taking what action you can.

The history books are one long sequence of events that put people to the test. And somehow, despite the damage, love, culture, and creativity carry on. As Mark Hoppus says — “The past is just the future with the lights on.”

This newsletter is about you. It would be easier to write about the world at large and my thoughts about it, but there’s no shortage of that sort of thing. I prefer to post my pundit proclivities elsewhere.

But you and I are sure to share a lot of similar feelings about things and seek similar strategies for keeping our consciousness above water.

To which I say this; you never know when you might come face-to-face with history. So figure out what feeds your head, moves your body, and nourishes your soul — and make sure you stay in balance with it.

Much love and all the best until next Monday!

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #662

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar