This time last week I was coming to terms with a very sick husband in ICU and since then, he’s been through the works, but thankfully, is on his way back to health. The biggest gift of this week was an outpouring of love from all over the world, wishing nothing but the best for my sweetheart, my boys and myself. It has been beautiful and humbling. Thank you.
I’ve spent every day with him in the hospital, so obviously with so much time on my hands, I’m still reading what’s going on in the world (as well as listening to lots of podcasts!) and like many, feel the anxiety and tension building.
At any time in the news, we have big moments and small ones, but the one thing I’m feeling the most is rage heading towards fever pitch. I try really hard to step back from the rage and rarely engage in any commentary which attracts haters or shouters, but it’s impossible to avoid it all together.
However, when you’re trying to come to terms with something like I’ve been facing this week – I really thought I would lose Steve – you know the only thing that really matters is love. Love for each other, our families, communities, the world, our environment, and even those we disagree with.
You see, those who have different opinions to us aren’t evil or bad people. They just have access to completely different information sources, and oftentimes they have access to opinions we don’t see or hear. With so many social media channels in the mix, of course that’s the case, because social media has become very VERY siloed.
Regardless, the information we all access is selling us a perspective, often sensationalized to attract clicks and therefore advertising revenue, and it is doing great harm to our societies. This is why I do these reads, providing many different media sources on the key stories happening in the world. I know that’s critical, because the divergence of opinions and ideas is becoming so wide, it’s hard to see how we can turn it around anymore!
When people believe in a collective enemy, they believe others are fighting for a future that is not good for them. If we get our way, their life will be worse, less, or they will have no place in the world that they can relate to. We’ve seen many communities in the last few years who have expressed this sentiment, and from what I’ve seen, it’s never addressed. When people feel ignored for long enough, of course they’re going to get angry!
Whichever side of the fence we’re on really doesn’t matter, when it is believed one will take everything from the other and vice versa. It feels more and more like we’re in a stalemate, and then you watch Ian Bremmer’s video below (thanks for this Joe Augustin) and understand this is the undercurrent we are all facing.
10 biggest world threats of 2023, ranked
So what can we do?
Well, if there was ever a time to be the change the world needs right now, this is it.
To start with, don’t get caught up in fights with people in opposition to you. You are not going to change their minds and they are not going to change yours, so don’t even try.
If you’re interacting on social media – especially with strangers, like you experience on Twitter – save your soul and just move on. Those fights go down the toilet so fast, so hard, and for what? You might not even be talking to a human, or it could be a troll making money from it, or maybe it’s just an arsehole that gets a thrill.
I always say, if you don’t know them, their experience, their expertise, their knowledge, then just don’t engage. Honestly, save yourself the angst.
BUT that doesn’t mean you go silent, which is the goal of many bad actors out there – to quieten the voices who disagree with them. No no no, we never allow anyone to silence our voices, because then they win. Please promise me you’ll never allow that to happen?
All we can do is put our beauty and insight out into the world and ignore anything ugly. It takes work, but you can do it.
The best focus for all of us right now is to help anyone who is looking for guidance on what to do to help the world, and I really want to encourage everyone to focus there. So many are seeking direction. They want your ideas and inspiration. Be there for them, because this is where we can really make a difference, and that’s the only place to be right now.
With the anxiety and tension building, it is time for the majority to rise up, speak up, protest, vote consciously and to share the beauty of life, the special moments you see happening around you, and to remind our fellow humans that our best opportunity is coming together, united, to work to overcome the massive challenges we face.
Because community is our path to the best possible future and never forget, love really is, all around.
Friend’s content and mine
Over the Influence? – Too old to be an influencer? Or just the right age? – great piece from my pal Tom Radford. This whole influencer thing is not what everyone thinks
Human Connection En Masse Connect With Confidence – I really enjoyed this podcast by Kerrie Phipps, understanding the struggles of mass people events – like marathons – especially the impact of Covid. Fascinating insight
Ep 14 – From Slovakia to the world: being a non-dominant passport holder & British-style vs IB – for all of the music teachers out there, especially those who want to join the international school fraternity (or might have children who do), have a listen to my pal Jana Beydoun.
Donation time
If everyone gave #just10percent of their time, talent, money or voice, we’ll change the world. Can you donate? Make it a regular donation to the World Food Programme. Or donate to the UN Refugee Program, Medicine Sans Frontier, PowerOf , Kiva.org , Soi Dog Foundation. It’s a time for giving and taking care of each other.
Content to read
And here’s the content I’ve been reading or watching this last week. Scan the headlines, read the ones that jump out at you, read or watch them all. Knowledge is power, and global knowledge is even more powerful.
Podcasts
I’ve been travelling back and forth to the hospital every day this week and that means it was a mega podcasting week. I only listen to podcasts when I drive because I can’t work and listen to them at the same time. I don’t drive very much, but this week was a different story. Here’s a selection if you’re looking for your next podcast to get into.
The Sunday Read: ‘Has the Amazon Reached Its “Tipping Point”?’ The Daily Podcast
Climate Tech Investing in Deep Decarbonization Climate Rising Podcast
Revisiting the “father of capitalism” The Gray Area with Sean Illing Podcast
The creator of Fargo is done with good guys vs. bad guys The Gray Area with Sean Illing Podcast
Not shy about retiring: strikes in France The Economist Podcasts
Davos 2023: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power World Economic Forum Podcast
A short history of sadness The Documentary Podcast
Super Soul Special: Daniel H. Pink: A New Mind Oprah’s Super Soul Podcast
Is America broken? The Gray Area with Sean Illing Podcast
The Journal.: China’s Accidental Dissidents
The Daily: The End of the Pandemic Emergency in the U.S.
The Prospect Podcast: Rosie Holt and Josh Berry: The state of British satire
Climate crisis
Kris De Decker: “Low Tech: What, Why and How” | The Great Simplification #33
Coldest wind chill ever recorded in continental US, say forecasters
The Arctic and Antarctic saw record warmth and ice melt in 2022Antarctic sea ice in rapid decline this season
Is Antarctica Melting? Yes, and Glaciers Are Losing Tons of Mass Every Year
Nuclear Fusion Isn’t the Silver Bullet We Want It to Be
What caused Auckland’s wettest day – and where climate change fits in
New Zealand roiled by flash floods, landslides for third day
World’s biggest investment fund warns directors to tackle climate crisis or face sack tks Kevin Cottam
Pursuing economic growth will kill us all in the end
Planning your 2023 travel? Skip these places in order to save them
Shell announces record annual profits of £32.2bn after energy price surge
Social change more important than physical tipping points : Newsroom : Universität Hamburg
Beware! Climate change will alter the way we live
Environmentalist Manuel Esteban Paez Terán’s death is part of a disturbing trend
An apology to my grandkids for not fighting in the war of our times tks Oliver Gill
DAVOS WEF Idea of de-globalization is a ‘mirage,’ says historian Niall Ferguson
Defra slashed tree target after lobbying by National Farmers’ Union
Azerbaijan weaponises conservation law in conflict with Armenia
Why don’t we talk about acid rain and the ozone hole anymore? Scientists debunk misinformation tks Kevin Cottam
Batya Ungar-Saron: Davos Climate Elites Love Private Jets, Hypocrisy
We are ‘greening’ ourselves to extinction
Nigeria floods: Songs and testimonies from a drowning world
In the Fight Over Gas Stoves, Meet the Industry’s Go-To Scientist
2023 is a fork in the road for bold action to accelerate clean transportation
Ukraine war to accelerate shift to clean energy, BP says
Another whale mysteriously washes ashore on US East Coast
Voluntary carbon markets: a misunderstood climate solution
Missing radioactive capsule found in Australia
Scientists Are Uncovering Ominous Waters Under Antarctic Ice
Is This Collapse?
Global politics
Pakistan rupee plunges as authorities loosen controls to revive bailout
Ardern may need ongoing security as true extent of threats is revealed
Taking on drag shows, ‘Latinx’ and more, Ark. moves from rhetoric to action tks Denise Chai
Czech Voters Deal a Blow to Populism
The Ukraine repair shop: where Russian tanks go to change sides
Ukraine war: 80 years on, we are facing German tanks again – Putin
How America Lost Its Grip on Reality
Chinese spy balloon: US tracks suspected surveillance device
What we know about the alleged Chinese government spy balloon tks Evelyn Lee
China urges calm over ‘spy’ balloon in US airspace
Secretive Saudi executions leave families in the dark Published
Paris Olympics: Up to 40 countries could boycott Games, says Poland sports minister
Nadine Dorries might be a genius – this was the most embarrassed Boris Johnson has looked tks Andy Lopata
Business and technology
Alphabet, Google layoffs notice foretells A.I. products amid Microsoft, OpenAI competition
Facebook parent Meta announces $40 billion stock buyback
TikTok’s ‘De-Influencing’ Trend Is Here to Tell You What Stuff You Don’t Need to Buy
Disillusioned at home, super-rich Chinese set their sights on Singapore tks Evelyn Lee
Social issues
Alan Cumming had the best response after Piers Morgan trolled him for ‘attention seeking’
‘I escaped abusive jungle cult – then rescued my son’
America’s Never-Ending War With… Itself
Tyre Nichols death: Three Memphis emergency staff fired
Pakistan mosque blast: Police targeted in suicide attack that kills 59
Pakistan mosque blast: 100 confirmed dead in marathon search of rubble
Spector review – a complex portrait of the murderer behind pop’s most iconic songs tks Andy Lopata
It’s Time for the Scientific Community to Admit We Were Wrong About COVID and It Cost Lives
We are all playing Covid roulette. Without clean air, the next infection could permanently disable you tks Angela Frechette
Passion, humour, history
The Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the 15 Best Films of Sundance 2023
JWST is better than anyone expected — here’s why
Groundhog Day: Does Punxsutawney Phil have competition?
Rare ‘mother-of-pearl’ cloud spotted in Scotland
Let me know what jumped out at you? Or share with me what you’re reading? I love that!
Cheers
Andrea
Want to get in touch? All of my contact information is here on Linktree.
Environment education
Three environment resources to help you navigate this challenging territory. 1. Knowledge, constantly updating. 2. Individual action and awareness, so we do our part. 3. Resources for those struggling with eco-anxiety. Please share with your community.
Uncommon Courage: an invitation
Uncommon Courage is an invitation to be your courageous best self every day. It’s also an antidote to the overwhelm, fear, and rage rolling around the world. But it’s more than a book; it’s an invitation to join an inclusive community that wants to better understand humanities challenges – both global and personal – in order to take courageous action and create a better world for everyone. If Covid19 has given us the time and space to reflect, Uncommon Courage gives us the nudge we need to create lasting change.
You can buy it on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Booktopia, Smashwords, Kobo, Gardners, Odilo, Indie Bound, BookShop by BookTrib and Scribd.
Better yet, order it from your local bookstore, so you can #SupportLocal.
You can read the reviews, including a new five-star review on Book Commentary, another five-star review on ReaderViews, a review on BookTrib, and three more on Booklife, another on Book Commentary and Blue Ink Reviews. I’m also collating reviews on my Website too. Have a look and grateful to everyone who has written or recorded one.
Come and join the conversation in my Facebook Group Uncommon Courage.
Listen in to the Uncommon Courage, the podcast on Apple, Spotify and everywhere podcasts are published.
The Know Show
Check out The Know Show. It’s a fortnightly wrap up of the news!
Climate Courage
A fortnightly conversation on issues that matter to you and I, focusing on the actions we can all take.
18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile
Listed by Book Authority in the 100 Best LinkedIn Books of All Time and 22 Best New LinkedIn eBooks To Read In 2021 and 2022 categories. Grab it today if you want to take your professional presence to the next level! When it comes to LinkedIn, it really is time to ask — can you really afford not to have this book in the hands of every employee?
Are you a Social CEO? The Social CEO: How Social Media Can Make You A Stronger Leader.
Want to claim your stage? Unleash Your Voice – Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman
Feedback
Have I done a great job for you? Can you write a reference on my LinkedIn profile or on my Google Business page? If not for me, why not write one for someone else who inspires you or has helped you? Join the #GivingEconomy.