Vernal Equinox 2026—Calming Objectivity

              As the first day of Spring arrives amidst tumultuous weather and climate extremes, constantly must I remind myself that nature (and weather) are completely impartial and neutral forces. You might call them just plain natural. There is never any malevolence in any storm or weather event—damage and destruction, yes—ill intent, not a trace. So dealing with climate change becomes simply and objectively the challenge of adapting to change, sometimes rapidly and radically adapting.
            Now dealing with the cause of climate change is another matter.  It’s much more difficult to view global warming and all its impacts and causes with objectivity.  But it’s very important to indeed think objectively, otherwise what is happening to our planet will consume us with anger, fear, and hatred. I know, I’ve felt anger and fear and even hopelessness trying to conquer me lately. So again and again I seek an objective, even a distanced view.
            That view includes realizing that humanity as a whole is part of earth’s overall biological picture. This means that humanity as a whole is not immune to any of the countless rules that govern life on our planet—including species extinction. This also includes species population reduction and culling to fit into a survivable ecosystem. Objectively thinking, it seems that we as humans are headed that way. Sad as it might seem, most or even all of the human race is likely to run headlong into the natural rules of biology and ecosystems.  That is a hard one to accept.
            So what about the greed, the selfishness, the politics and power that now rule and are ruining both our natural world and our social contract? Objectively thinking, they are all products of diseased brains, and we know what nature does to diseases.
            And what about the innocent humans caught between the storms and the wars? Subjectively it is so very sad.  It can consume a person.  But objectively, well, some will adapt to change and survive. And the rest of the innocent?  I can only hope for them that they can find moments of joy amidst the chaos. Calm follows storm, rebirth follows death, and nature always survives.
            So today as I objectively welcome spring, I’ll continue to adapt.  But I’ll also continue to dream about gentle soft rains, sweet smells of the earth, and inspiring rainbows.