"Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from the people killing, stealing, shouting, and doing things historians usually record, while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise their...children, sing songs, write poetry, and even whittle statues.
"The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks. Historians are pessimists because they ignore the banks of the river." Will and Ariel Durant - from the beginning of their 11-volume Story of Civilization
It's easy to see the negative in the world. It's glaring; it's out there; it's news and it sells. But most of the seven billion people on this planet are somehow making things work. Could they be better? Sure. But constantly worrying and complaining and wishing for the next life is not the way to make things better. And your local and national news anchor is not going to tell you much of the good news. Their sponsors wouldn't like that.
Action is required. Jump in, take a risk, and be the change you would like to see in the world. The banks are overflowing with opportunity.
Next time you feel inclined to complain about this river called civilization, remember the banks. The real world exists there, not out in the media stream where it's being dashed to pieces on a 24-hour cycle.
As the Desiderata says, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
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