I don’t know what the word hero means anymore — at least in a personal context. Surely there are men and women of enormous bravery who I would consider heroes. People who made great sacrifices for others. But I no longer have any personal heroes. Loads of people I respect and envy their talent, but no one I admire so completely that they rise to the level of hero. I don’t know if that is a good thing or bad thing or just an observation.
The overview effect is a cognitive shift reported by some astronauts while viewing the Earth from space. Researchers have characterized the effect as “a state of awe with self-transcendent qualities, precipitated by a particularly striking visual stimulus”. The most prominent common aspects of personally experiencing the Earth from space are appreciation and perception of beauty, unexpected and even overwhelming emotion, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole. The effect can cause changes in the observer’s self concept and value system, and can be transformative.
I am intrigued by this concept of the Overview Effect. I came across an article in the morning paper and then did some deeper investigation.
Most astronauts who view the earth from space report a transformative experience and specifically a sentiment of feeling more attached to humanity and an acknowledgment of the fragility of the earth.
One man went further and explained how it had become clear to him that his value system had changed dramatically. He had previously accepted the narrative we are all so familiar with — that our economic systems are the the most critical function of our society because that provides economic output, jobs etc. Next came matters of society and then planetary considerations follow somewhere behind.
After his time in space, his beliefs turned 180 degrees. He immediately understood we are all intimately connected with the health of the planet and every decision we make should be taken with that understanding. The earth floats in space and we have no alternative but to protect our planet and care for one another. Economic considerations should come behind planetary concerns and equity in society.
There are a great many people to whom this concept has been clear for a long time — no trip to space required. But it is imminently clear that our governments are not aware and continue to make every decision based on economic criteria, which by the way nearly always also coincides with some material gain in each of our governmental representatives lives.
Even when we occasionally pass some sort of weak environmental legislation, the effects of the legislation must pass a strict test measuring expected impact on the economy. If it is perceived there might be even a slight negative effect on the economy, the legislation will fail in congress regardless of how beneficial it may prove to the health of the planet. The playbook is tried and proven effective and has been repeated as long as I have been able to read newspapers. Pol’s use fear to erode support for environmental legislation — they simply have to say that hiring will slow or there will be a negative impact on productivity and the legislation goes away. And the earth sighs and takes another cut or bruise.
We simply are not good at playing the long game. We always trade tomorrow for today.
Brittany, Terri, and I are preparing for our big trip to Namibia and South Africa. It dawns on me that I will have to say something at our 20-year ceremony and I don’t know yet what that might be.
I need to spend some quality time at Black Dog Ridge as there is much outside work to get done before I disappear for 3-weeks. Turns out having two homes is twice as much work as one home. Especially when they are 4-hours apart. But it’s worth the effort for now — to be close to family in one space and deep in healing nature in the other.
I re-read one of my earlier posts to remember my climb up Kilimanjaro. It is here. I am thinking of Africa now and that always makes me reflective. I think the sadness of the pending battle for the viability of our planet and the deteriorating political situation here and abroad is simply overwhelming me at the moment. I’ve learned all kinds of tricks to insulate myself over the years, but sometimes they simply are not enough.
Since I was a very young person, nothing has burned my balls as much as the lack of justice in the world. That is the dragon I’ve been trying to slay my entire life. But it’s an indomitable quest. It’s beyond our reach. It’s a dragon that cannot be slayed. We learn to live with it or we turn inwards or we simply give up.
It dawns on me that I have created a number of identities for myself over the years. Entrepreneur, writer, sailor & adventurer, rugby player, charity geek, and serial roamer (domiciled at times on 4 continents and 12 states).
I always sign off with rugby player.
Not other news of note.
Oh yea — Donald Trump was shot in the ear and Joe Biden is old as fuck.
Humbly Submitted
Robert Myres – Flanker, Portneuf Valley Rugby Football Club (ret.)
The Martini Tales 