Recession Proof
“After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on – have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear – what remains? Nature remains.” –Walt Whitman
Like many of you, I follow the unfolding saga of the Global Economy with great concern and no small amount of utter disgust. I will not, however, offer you my own political commentary. There is certainly more than enough to go around. What I feel is missing in many people’s minds, though, is a greater context; and a reason to not give up hope or succumb to cynicism.
Some years ago, I found myself facing the possibility of great risk to my own financial well being. The risk was more one of perception rather than reality, though I did not know it at the time. In fact, my fears were almost entirely based on inability to foresee the possibilities ahead and the events that will follow. As is my habit, when faced with such matters, I went to seek solitude in natural surroundings, hoping to gain clarity of thought and perspective. It was not easy.
I had been driving for two days immersed in gloom, trapped in my own bubble of doubt and hopelessness and unable to see or experience much beyond it. That afternoon, though, I found myself alone on a remote beach in Northern California. By then I had all but made up my mind to turn around the next day and return to face a grim reality, at a loss for answers or hope.
I sat in the sand, by a large pile of driftwood. A small creek poured into the Pacific nearby, and in the calm waters seals kept raising their heads, studying me with great curiosity before diving back down. Somehow between the soothing lapping of the waves, the golden light and my own mental exhaustion, I must have fallen asleep. I remember waking up to darkness below a clear sky filled with stars, a distinct chill in the air, the unmistakable scent of the ocean, and the Belt of Orion looming over a distant grove of redwoods. It was a common scene with little fanfare, yet as its elements began to penetrate my consciousness one by one, I felt a great sense of peace. The sound of breaking waves, their white caps visible through the darkness; the hushed wind in the tall canopies above, dots of light in the heaven that had began their journey hundreds, even thousands, of years before arriving here at this precise moment, carrying with them something of the immense worlds they left. As the impressions coalesced in my mind, only one thought loomed large above it all: as long as I am rich enough and strong enough to experience moments like this, I will be content with my life; no matter what circumstances, worries, difficulties or tragedies may ensue.
When it seems like our self-inflicted chaos is too much to bear, it may be worth remembering that there is calm above the troubled river of rancor and cynicism; that there are noble things for us to discover that will remain irrespective of our own flaws, and despite all the greed and falsehoods and stupidity our species can muster. Tempting as it is to heed the voices that affirm and inflame and anger one’s political confirmation bias (whatever it may be,) it is useful sometimes to step outside the bubbling cauldron; to seek solace in things greater, more ancient, more mysterious and more stimulating than the political scandal du jour; to realize we are each a part of the same “something,” whatever we believe it to be; to find an anchor in reality. Not my reality or their reality or the reality of the Economy or the reality of the country — there is only one reality; reality that is oblivious to human antics, economic markets or the miasmal putrescent morass infesting our airwaves.
Things will be OK. No matter how bad by any other measure, or how demonized by the malignant fashion of the day, as long as beauty and mystery and silence are there to be had, for little effort or investment, things will be OK!
Go out and find a miracle of nature, however small, and take a deep breath. Invite beauty and art into your life. Kick out some less desirable tenants if you need to make room. Look into the earth and sky and the depths of the universe and remind yourself what an astonishing miracle it is for you to even be here to ponder them. If this sense of wonder and awe is all that remains after the human-made indulgences are gone; there is still reason for gratitude.
“And if you gaze for long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” –Friedrich Nietzsche
Another thoughtful post with a wisdom which is seldom grasped today. Your quote from Nietzche is one of my favorites, with the sentence preceding it “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”
Very wise words that I really needed today, I always enjoy reading your inspirational posts. Thanks so much for putting your heart and emotions out there for us all to see and learn from…
Just what I needed to read… now if I can just remember to abide by your wise words when my mood goes dark…thanks Guy.
Great post, once again Guy! Very inspirational and thought provoking. Thank you!
Thank you for the words of wisdom and inspiration Guy.
In troubled times like these, the words above fill a vast gaping hold in my scarred soul. Perhaps there is more to life than just the pursuit of happiness!….
Very inspirational and thought provoking. Thanks for writing this.
Another great piece to read. I completely agree with you.
When I need to think or get out of my daily world to relax my mind I go alone into nature. The week before I did just day, had two vacation days and went an afternoon to walk in Sintra Natural Park here in Portugal. The forest silence just amazes me. The trip was physically hard, even more because I stupidly took the photo equipment with me (including the tripod).
When I got back home it was dark night already, I came with lots of bruises and scratches but I came with my mind clean =)
I really needed this, as a Photography student, with a lack of funding to finish, I have been stuck, wondering if I made the right decision. Thank you for the hope :0
What a timely and beautiful post, Guy. I find your words comforting and peace-bringing, which is something I very much needed today. Thank you for that.
And when people ask “how do you do that” in referance to a beautiful moment in time you have captured, this connection you speak of that calms you, opens your heart and climbs inside, this is where those creations come from.
Love.
And love cures.
Roman
Guy,
I find that I face these same feels and appreciate your thoughts and encouraging words. A few months ago a customer, while viewing my work, said they were glad I did what I do. I try to keep in mind that it’s not always what I think but am I making people’s days better by seeing my work. Hopefully the money will follow but that’s not the bottom line.
Gary
Our greatest mistake as a society is to measure everything in dollars. I live close to the Canadian border and get Canadian TV including a series called “The Nature of Things” with Dr. David Suzuki. A number of years ago they ran a special program called “Suzuki Speaks” in which he talks about how we are focused on the wrong things and points out that the economy was created to serve us but we have ended up serving the economy. There is a You-Tube excerpt at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG6LzrELkn4. You can buy the full program on DVD. I recommend it (and no, I do not have any connection to or make anything from the sale of the DVD).
“Things will be OK.” Aye!
Sláinte.
Great photo and incredible blog posting. Your writing always strikes a chord with me, but this piece is especially wonderful. Well done.
Erik
Wow! Special words and you are so right…nature is a free blessing for us to enjoy each day wheither at the beach or elsewhere….
D
To me, the ultimate inspirational line was – “as long as I am rich enough and strong enough to experience moments like this, I will be content with my life; no matter what circumstances, worries, difficulties or tragedies may ensue.”
Poignant and beautiful writing, Guy.
What a way to start my day! An elegant prose that tells of an inner journey that we can all take if we so chose. Cheers!
Absolutely love this post, Guy! It’s how I (at least try to) live my life every day and is advice worth heeding much more than any news program.
Thanks for a timely and terrific post guy!
Best,
Matt
A very thoughtful and beautiful post Guy. Thanks for sharing.
Russ
Very important and insightful words in these troubled times of uncertainty. In our situation, we were about to retire and enjoy life traveling to places far and wide, until our youngest daughter became ill and had to move back home. We took on her debts, which put the brakes on our retirement plans. The philosophy we adopted is that once you become a parent, you sign on for life. As for the money, we would would have spent it anyway, so what better thing to do than to share our good fortune with someone in greater need than us. Our financial future is not as rosy as we planned for, but no matter how sorry we feel for ourselves, we look around us and see others who are worse off. Sorry for being long winded, but your words made me realize how lucky and blessed we are.
Thanks for the article, Guy. It is very beautifully written and quite comforting!
-Vidya
Guy — Thank you! We needed that. Frank
I liked the sentiment here, but what’s wrong with being cynical? Let’s face it, if you’re not a little bit cynical about what’s going on in this world, you’re not in phase with the 21st century.
Nice writing here Guy. I love that last paragraph in particular…
Beautiful post, Guy.
Something fascinating has happened to me over the last few months. I have not listened to the Radio or watched TV. This has created a strange, yet significantly measurable positive effect. I know, I know, it is best to stay informed, to know what is going on. What if I miss something critical? I’ve found that the most significant events seem to get relayed to me anyway. I tuned into the Radio for the first time around the beginning of August, just in time to hear of a week-long plummet of European stock markets. Just as I did in October 2008, I sat down in shock and fear. Then I gathered myself out of a knee-jerk response and opened my heart as big as I could and first said yes to the fear, then let it gradually leave and dissipate. Since then I have continued my TV and Radio Silence. I find that I have a much more positive attitude than most others I talk to, and guess what? It isn’t just Pollyanna either. Staying positive has produced positive results. I have sold six prints this week including one of Dad’s vintage silver prints. I also developed a pending situation that will bring as many as 20 more prints in the near future.
Remember that what began all of this was the bank policy of giving loans to under qualified people. Where does bank policy come from? There is no conspiracy, just follow the money. Look to who is making policy. There is a reason the economy has to take a dive this century, and I do mean the whole century long, get used to it. To make a transition to a clean energy economy, we have to run the whole economy on 30 percent of the energy we do now. That means we have to trim 70 percent of the fat.
Photography will survive.
Some photographers will thrive and some will fail. As Guy said in another post, “Choose wisely.”
Thanks David!
I haven’t owned a TV in quite some time now. I consider it one of the best decisions I ever made.
Guy