what’s an individual to do?
Well, having causes and taking actions for what believes in still works. I still drop money in the jars for causes and support charities I believe in that need support. I still speak up when someone in public/a business tries to screw me around. I still leave the phone messager on to filter intrusive calls attempting to get me to waste money for their agendas. I still hit Mute when the commercials come on. I only support legitimate charities with identification at the door.
Much of the ‘outside noise’ and non-stop selling is an attack on the senses (loud music at the movies and crap music at some eating places) and sanity designed to distract large masses of the hoi-polloi. Overall, most of what passes in our society today is aimed at creating the lowest common (buying, consuming), unthinking denominator. You see this unthinking, too, in how most people walk around with earbuds or lost/buried in their drug-phones, disconnected from the immediate physical world and Nature. Hence, by extension, the climate crisis and people’s inability to identify plants, flowers, trees, animals and birds.
Every day I put out food for the backyard squirrel and birds. They are in tough with a 1/5 loss of birds in the past half-century, for instance. If one has a value, one should support it and put their money toward it.
It is important to remain grounded in one’s personal life. Yesterday I painted the fence because it needed to be done. Who else would do it anyway?
It is also important to look after one’s own health even it means annoying trips to the doctor and spending money for prescribed medication for real health conditions one may have. It means overcoming pride and ego even if it means, for instance, using a cane to get around better and more. Common sense stuff.
Speaking of filthy lucre, it often means that money in and of itself is not the be-all, end-all of a person’s life. Money is only a means to an end, and at best, as in the case of philanthropy or someone like Bill Gates, can be used as a positive to help others.
Re. ‘things’. All things are, of course, ultimately disposable and though some may be very valuable and precious to an owner, you can’t take it with you, as has often been remarked. These daze I find myself divesting myself of more and more. ‘Things’ are largely the antithesis of spiritual matters and experiences in any case.
I spend most of my days against the background of self-inflicted man-made crises, suffering, and craziness on a higher plane of regard, where I have long lived thanks to Nature and the Arts. It is there I continue to find meaning, sense, understanding, appreciation, escape, and more moral and uplifting calm and focus. It is a place I still consciously choose to live that keeps my soul and integrity intact after 70 interesting, relatively growthful years.
If I was to give any advice to someone it would be:
-choose where and how you want to live and practise/experience your own preferred values and dreams. Inner peace is only possible by going this way. One can’t do better than to follow one’s own bliss.
-be true to yourself, as Hamlet said. Don’t be drawn off your best self and instincts. Be honest with others as well.
-take care of yourself first because you can’t succeed or survive if you destroy yourself or let others pull you down toward lower/lowest levels.
-spend a portion of each day enjoying and experiencing the Nature around you
-learn something new every day. Take charge of your own education and edification.
-explore the Arts. They have so much meaning, purpose, wisdom, depth, spirit, and refreshment to offer individuals. Imagination, thinking and awareness are key parts of fully-lived experience.
-live more at the individual level and develop your consciousness to come to know yourself, others, Nature, and the world. It is no one else’s life and you only get one shot at this life as far as we know. Don’t let others control or live your life for you.
-much of life is absurd, funny, and ironic. Enjoy these aspects and learn to laugh at yourself and life.
-learn to accept, let go, and be truly free of external controls and restraints. Many of our limits are self-imposed.
-be thoughtful and mindful of others. Give freely of self to those in need and especially to those you appreciate. Gifts of self are the highest gifts of all.
-family is the most worthwhile social unit to be attached and devoted to. If you are prepared to die for companion or a family member, then you have likely ‘maxed’ as a compassionate, empathetic person.