Moral: Concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character. Reticence: 1] inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech: reserved, :2] restrained in expression, :3] reluctant. Today, our society exist in a state of evolutionary stagnation initiated by a global crisis of epic ethical proportion. If you look around, unfortunately, there are many viable reasons to gradually embrace the notion of Moral Reticence.
The current state of mankind is not kind. Most of it is self-inflicted and the result of decades of inherent political division, failures of leadership, the devaluation of universally accepted core values and ongoing systemic global racism. Individuals, institutions, leaders and corporations have progressively placed power and profits over people and sacred prophets. All of these human initiated calamities have converged to tilt the social equilibrium towards a modern-day Twilight Zone of sorts. With some of us, unwilling cast members watching in disbelief, hope fading and with our souls slowing growing numb to everything around us and around the world. I am one of the members of that growing distressed cohort.
Excessive amounts of pain, sorrow and sadness are already woven into the fabric of our life. Naturally occurring, unavoidable events, not requested, but an integral part of everyone’s journey, leaving undeniable internal scars. So, I do not think it is wise or necessary to proactively seek out or intentionally expose one’s self to any more sobering news or random acts of inhumanity. I no longer watch the “News”, because there is very little that is really new. The major themes have not changed for centuries, our nation’s history of hate, social injustice, crime, political discord, oppression, violence, racism and tragedy continue to occupy today’s headlines.
I made a decision in 2021, for my own mental health and physical well-being to no longer ingest, emulate or be a courier of life’s negativity and turmoil. I did not like the way it weighed heavily on my heart, mind, soul, actions and disposition. I needed no further proof of what the world is truly capable of. Life can be overtly cruel and humanity can be covertly inhumane. Day after day, I believed what I continue to witness. There are some things in life, that are simply right or wrong, there are no exceptions or cannot be any asterisks.
I have benefitted tremendously by reallocating precious time that is no longer spent on absorbing the not so breaking “News”. I have reclaimed unquantifiable amounts of inner peace and now find myself engaging in more spontaneous acts of service and goodwill. I believe these gifts are more valuable legacies for someone to leave here with this world. Besides, unfortunately, millions of despondent messengers are consciously and unconsciously actively at work sharing and digesting old news.
After 60 years of evolving, my goal and advice is to approach each day as a special blessing with the opportunity to be a positive catalyst for change. Even though my faith and resolve to control my own destiny remains strong, my hope for humanity is undeniably fleeting. There are more rough sea’s ahead so I’ve anchored myself to a few core principles rooted in faith, love, kindness, compassion and hope. All tempered with humble and modest quantities of Moral Reticence.
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