What should be for ‘23?

In The Daily Paradox, we try to be innovative, controversial, thought-provoking and touching the feelings of our readers. So what should it be for ‘23? ‘Mindful of the climate crisis’ goes without saying. ‘Finding a way to stop the war’ is self-evident. ‘A rethink about fairness and equity for a larger portion of the population than enjoys it at present’ doesn’t take a genius to put high on the list of objectives. Our idea for 2023 is rather different from these, valuable as they are. And it includes them all. 

What we suggest is made possible by the wide range of person-to-person, modern media channels. It is already happening, but not always in the best way, nor necessarily for the good of all. We think what should be for ‘23 is Getting to know our Neighbours. You may think you already do that, but have you considered who is now your neighbour? Of course it is the person next door – and how many of us know them today? It is also a wider group of people. People of our own education, culture and thinking join our circle naturally. But neighbours are also people on the opposite side of our political persuasions. They are those of a different religious belief or of none. They include the fallen as well as the agreeable. They are those to whom kindness is rarely shown and by whom it is therefore greatly needed. 

We love who we love, but can we love who we don’t?

Humanity may have giant leaps starting in 2023. The prospect of fusion energy is distant but glowing. The economic slowdown of the world is widely regarded as reprehensible but perhaps it is time we thought a bit more about our recent galloping growth and whether trotting might not be a good idea for the planet for a while. We talk and write about human rights as though they were a prescription we could buy at the pharmacists – but do we think about what they mean for the person boarding the bus in front of us? We digitise and automate to relieve ourselves of hard thinking and heavy lifting. But are our lives better and are we nicer people for increasing ease? Do we trust each other more than we did – or less? 

We search our souls but do we ask ourselves what our soul is?

Neighbours are always there. They are more accessible each day. They can be monetised, proselytised, vilified, glorified but can they be known? Are we to discuss the future of humanity with professors of philosophy and to write about it in thought journals without asking what our neighbours want? A quick chat with some Daily Paradox readers suggests that trust is ebbing away and may be the most needed of the missing virtues. 

So who to trust most and first if not our neighbours, especially our distant ones?

Economies must be strengthened. Business must go on and revitalise the platform we call life in a sustainable and acceptable way. Our relations with other members of the human race must become polite and reasonable. And what is to be our part in that? To get to know our neighbours would be a small step for us but a giant leap for mankind.

May 2023 be the year to do that and bring us understanding of those we live near. 

Happy and Neighbourly New Year.

John Bttleston

john.bittleston@terrificmentors.com 

Could you take one step towards knowing your neighbours? It might enliven 2023. Share your views with us at mentors@terrificmentors.com 

28 December 2022