@Free_Press

Peter, like many, is becoming collapse aware.

It's a hard concept to grapple with, filled with emotions of angst, fear, dread and a finality no one wants to have to accept.

Yet an acceptance of where we are and where we are headed can replace those fears, dreads and angst with a kind of peacefulness.

I liken it to the diagnosis of a terminal disease.

One can spend their remaining days lamenting their fate, cursing the disease, wishing it away and turning sour and bitter at the world for their predicament.

One can also spend their remaining days taking inventory of their life; deciding what is important from that moment on and then focusing on what is important to them.

Goals take on a new meaning. No longer is there infinite time to accomplish what one wants to accomplish. Long term plans change to short term plans, ones that will make a difference in the here and now rather than 'some day this will happen'.

I was influenced by 2 ppl close to me with terminal diagnosis.

One chose to use her time 1) being grateful for the time she's had in the past and the wonderful experiences, ppl and opportunities, and to continue being fearful for her time left; and 2) using her time left dedicated to causes she felt she could still make an impact on.

The other became angry and bitter, withdrew from others, became hyper focused on regrets of the past, and resigned to a miserable existence awaiting his death.

Needless to say, the passing of both of these ppl were quite opposites.
She went peacefully; he fought it to the very end, and it was not peaceful at all.
I was with both of these ppl when they passed on.

Acceptance of the reality of our situations frees one from wasted angst and dread.

Of course there is sadness at the situation, and it will surface time and again. But it's a buried sadness when acceptance takes precedent. It surfaces less and less when ones days are filled with greatfulness for what we've had, and continue to have until the final curtain falls. Days filled with keeping busy doing the things that being you joy; helping others, righting wrongs, working on goals that bring immediate results.

I've grappled with collapse awareness for 40 years, and can honestly say it has been collapse acceptance that has freed my mind, brought me happiness despite dire times, and shown me what is truly important in the time I have left on this planet.