I turned 60 this year. I don't know if its commonly an age thing but more than ever I feel the need to withdraw from society.
I'm wise enough to resist any temptation to "knee jerk", to withdraw completely, besides, been there done that.
At ages 21 and 24yo on both occasions I strapped a hunting rifle to my motorcycle and headed for the hills. 5 days I lasted each time. I was a hopeless hunter and had I caught game I likely wouldn't have gone further in the process to eat it. And I ran out of my baked beans. Obviously it wasn't planned well.
However it did worry me that I'd thrown my jobs in and not told anyone of my decision. That had smacked against my general nature of being responsible
To this day some nearly 40 years not much has changed in terms of the overall feeling of wanting to escape...but from what or whom?
I've narrowed it down to people. Not all people but.. .most.
most people- will walk over the top of you in the workplace to achieve the slightest advantage. Will deceive you especially public figures. Will steal your children if they are in contact with some cult organisations. Will ridicule you for your thoughts because in their eyes you are not entitled to an opinion that doesn't match theirs. And so on. Is this fear you also?
But regardless of these strong negative thoughts there has to be a middle ground whereby I,we,can survive. It won't be perfect and that has to be accepted.
In this new millennium social media plays the biggest part for this is where we have contact with most people. Facebook is my enemy. Sure posting instant pics especially to.family is fabulous. You become closer. So I feel that its time to significantly reduce my other friends
Clubs?. Most of my fb friends are in a motoring club. Are they friends? I've pondered that overnight. I can choose 4, two couples out of 90. Some of the remainder are often sarcastic, popularist, jealous and all sorts of behaviour that is not considered healthy and stable for my needs.
Again I'm going to be careful, mature and leave with the least fanfare at a time when I feel its right.
Sometimes we have to make decisions we dont like for the greater good of our future. We don't need to be abrasive nor over reactive. Reducing the number of people you are in contact with can help some maintain a comfort zone.
Reduction also with news watching, local newspapers and politics is also needed.
Nuture yourself. Most won't understand. But when has "most" ever understood?
Tony WK
