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At the moment, I feel trapped in the now.
Everyday, I read and watch the news. I read over emails. I think about what I can do for fun today. I talk to others who focus on the now as well. Here I am, trapped in the now.
To a certain extent, it is okay. To be trapped in the now means that I see what is going on to others.
Bills.
Bills, bills, bills.
Bills piling up.
A need to prioritize payment of bills.
Housing bills first? Kids? Gasoline? Heat? Food? Which bills to pay?
To the greater extent, being trapped in the now is devastating.
Today, people in Maine got their price estimates for winter heating fuel: almost twice as much as last winter. Suddenly, those trapped in the now are pulled forward a few months, and see that the troubles of now are nothing compared to the troubles on the horizon.
Yet still, we are trapped in the now.
This winter is nothing. What about the ten winters that follow? What about the many years we hope, and plan, to live before we die?
As one gets closer and closer to living from paycheck to paycheck, the time horizon shrinks. Concerns about next year become concerns about next month... and then next week... and then tomorrow... and then later today.
Trapped in the now is the state that we are collectively headed, so for myself, I must escape the now.
Escape the now means look beyond today, this month, this year, this life.
What can I do to escape the now?
Turn off the computer.
Turn off the TV.
Set aside time to think... you know enough already. You know how things are likely to go... if not when.
Stop reading.
Plan unplanned time where you can think into the future... far into the future.
Escape the now.
If that is what I need to do, how can I invite others to escape the now?
This seems a great challenge.
Today, a senator relayed a story about a single mother of two who had re-prioritized her spending: first, the mortgage; second, child care; third, gasoline; fourth, food.
How would I invite her to escape the now? To look into the future, near and far, to see how rising oil prices and our travel through the peak oil era alters everything?
And if I could, why do it?
Why open the way for others to learn what they might be able to do little about?
Because, we can do much.
Every choice is important.
Do we keep paying to drive alone to work, or do we walk, bike, share a ride, find public transportation?
Do we keep eating highly processed foods or do we start cooking again? Start growing our own food again?
Do we keep looking for entertainment and fun that cost money, or do we seek free fun with family, friends, neighbors?
Yes, sure, we are doing that!!! They say. What more, what more do you think we can do? What about this mortgage, which is eating up 50%, 60%, 70% of my cash? What about this car loan that is more than I can afford? What about these credit card bills, and maxed out cards that I never seem to be able to pay off? What about those things!
*sigh*
I don't know. I wish I did. Is there no hope for some?
THIS issue is growing. As more of us reach that paycheck to paycheck moment, and slowly sink below the waves, what can we do?
Essential. This question is essential for us for face, ponder, and solve. How do we escape being trapped in the now?
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Fossil Fuel
