I’ve watched so much Sci-Fi and Fantasy that I often have nightmares of waking up in a post-apocalyptic world. Kind of like the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max. And the fear I have isn’t about that world — it’s about being alone with no companionship. Basically, I’d have two choices: (1) Look out for yourself, hide, and stay out of trouble, or (2) Band together with others — show love — but increase the chances of being spotted. In Mad Max, Tom Hardy started with choice #1 (after losing his family), but then graduated to choice #2. Why take the risk, though? Likely cuz there’s something about being loved and belonging.
(I’ve seen this in real life, too. A doctor took me to see some homeless people he was treating. And there was an 18-yr-old able-bodied kid there, living with 2 unrelated elderly people. The kid could have left at any point and lived alone — maybe lived a better life — but he chose to stay, purely cuz he liked the feeling of belonging.)
These reflections remind me that we might wake up every day to news that the world is one step closer to the apocalypse — but we don’t have to let our chest tighten, our heart sink, or our blood boil. In the midst of this emotional desert, there’s still love and companionship — if we know where to look.