Pausing to Reflect on Our Contemporary Society

 Just like inside the proverbial witches pot, let us reflect on the contemporary world to muse on what has been brewing for some time now -  and can potentially cook more in this third decade of the 21st century. 

The past is not a sure guide for the future, but currently reading the key leaves hanging from the prediction tree is not a wasted exercise. Why wait until the typical and reactive hue and cry when the pot does boil over? 

In geopolitics, we have witnesed how endless banter and chat in halls of distinguished looking human beings do not do much in resolving matters of any severity.  Where there is no empathy in wilfulness - and where controlling mindsets are embedded in selfishness and divisiveness - problems get multiplied. 

Increasing control in the background by truly powerful interests around the world - whether in finance, politics, arnaments, technology or emotional articulation of self entitled beliefs - will impact on a world run on short termism, less supporting resources  and increasing manipulation of the way the masses think and react. 

There are events that can spring a

surprise, but there can be related causes that many of us have wilfully ignored or are in long denial, for whatever reasons, justified or not. 

1.  Continuing down trodding of and discrimatory treatment in practice of specific groups of people in an age of supposedly human enlightenment. 

2.   Blurring of facts, opinion and lies in matters of science, health and medical norms. 

3.   Significant breakdown in the regulatory environment where 

organisations and individuals who breach know they can mostly get away scot free. 

4. Dehumanisation of commercial, institutional and other human interaction transactions. 

5.    The loss of inner meaning for human beings despite experiencing improved physical facilitation, greater mobility and the growing availability of instant gratification. 

6.   The debasement of original meanings of specific phrases as they are publicly misused and quoted by parties with a negative intent. 

7.  Increasing distraction of humans with trivial and temporary matters by the powers that be with addictive methods, gadgets and overly processed consumption. 

8.  The increasing failure to develop and implement innovation in the way societies and economies are run, especially with larger populations who have higher expectations. 

9.   The pervasive and lingering preoccupation in media with rather negative matters rather than appreciating the positive ones to balance the full and overall picture. 

10.   The dire need to better manage the vast amount of accumulated and future data by individuals, governments, on line data banks and other parties. 

When you next get an opportunity to observe matters, do any one of the above ten dotpoints apply? 

And please do suggest another dot point on your mind to the list above, thank you.

#yongkevthoughts

Whatever Will Be, Will Be

 When I got to vote, 

l asked my Missee, 

Will I now kick off the rogue

who's been fooling me? 

Will I be truly free, will I feel neat?

Here's what she said to me. 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be. 

When I paid my dues and joined the Melee,

I asked my Party what lies ahead?

Will we have rainbows day after day?

Here's what my Party said to me. 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be. 

Now I have a Branch of my own

Members ask their Mentor what will they be,

Will they have power? Will they be rich?

I tell them tenderly, 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Wharever will be, Will be. 

- Lyric variation by KY

Que Sera Sera was a hit song by Doris Day,

featured in the Alfred Hitchcock movie,

"The Man Who Knew Too Much."

What They Do Not Want To Tell Us

 In an age of information overload, what is most significant? 

It is what they do not tell us.

It is what they make it so difficult to access.

It is "nothing to see here".

It is what they dress up in  mighty terms - commercial-in-confidence, 

Parliamentary privilege,

national security, military secret, for the public's own good.

It is what Freedom of Information requests gets the silent treatment.

It is when shareholder microphones get shut down by the Chairperson of the Board.

It is when obvious topics of urgency, news or discussion of them do not appear as headlines.

It is when authorities underestimate the intelligence of the public.

It is when weblinks are blocked without any explanation given.

It is when the public are fed addiction on rather useless distractions.

It is when censorship occurs covertly with those in power shouting they represent democratic values.

It is when the public gets strongly aroused to find out for themselves.

#yongkevthoughts

By The Time I Get to Ballarat

 An Ode to Victoria -

By The Time I Get To Ballarat 

"By the time I get to Tullamarine,

She'll be rising,

She'll find the note I posted on Signal,

She'll laugh, when she reads the part that says I'm coming

Cause I've wanted to, so many times before. 

By the time I make Southern Cross,

She'll be working,

She'll probably stop at lunch,

And give me a call,

But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringing,

Out of coverage, that's all 

By the time I make Ballarat,

She'll be sleeping,

She'll turn softly and call my name out low,

And she'll cry, just to think, I may not really be here,

Though time and time I've tried to tell her so

She just didn't know,

I would really love her so."

Most of the above Lyrics are credited to Jimmy Webb.

The greatest version, to me, of this hit song was rendered by Glen Campbell.

That Time of Year - End of 2023

 So it is that time of year to clear the rafters. 

Calenders are human devices, but they sort of sync with the movements of Earth, the change of seasons and the connections of the human pysche with the Universe. 

Significant social, cultural and sentimental triggers are also kicked off before closure of the year.

What have we achieved, what we have not, what close shaves did we have and how grateful we can be. 

Moving away from all the commercialised distractions of year end, what really matters? 

I reckon it is people and how they have made you feel, inspired, discouraged or anything in between.  It is also how you have treated others you come across - given a free smile, learnt something, enjoyed discussing something or made a stand in differences of opinion.  True and lasting friendships go through the hard yards with a deeper appreciation and understanding.

What is not worth it can be let go thankfully with hindsight and relief. 

No matter where and how our station in life is on several fronts, what also is significant is to take a pause and acknowledge things  fortunate in our own platter.  

There is no need to succumb to societal pressures to compare ones self with others.   It is more important to compare your past self with your current self, to motivate yourself to an even better future. 

Each of us human beings do have a limited shelf life.   The arrival of another year means getting nearer to that best by and the separate ultimate date.    So the resolution for each New Year is more importantly, how are you going to make the best of your time, which can never be recouped, refunded or returned. 

The stroke of midnight on the last day of the old Year is just an artificial demarcation.   Every one carries on with mostly the same habitual mindsets, practices and comfort zones.  The trick is to discern better which are temporary pleasures and addictions, to sift them like unwanted chaff from what truly matters. 

So we come to the most important point in managing the transition from 2023 to 2024, how best to navigate change.    Change is the ever constant - and how to gracefully and effectively navigate its nuances is the best gift of ability of all. 

Confronting change can reaffirm your everlasting inner values, but also needs agility to approach things in a different way.   It can require new techniques to steer your personal ship.  It requires one to adapt, innovate and rethink.  Change best makes us to anticipate better, not just react but optimise risks lurking in every part of our personal journey. 

Change is best handled by managing our intensity of expectations.    Change is facilitated by being able to see and understand things that others cannot.   Good change is not 

spectacular, but consistent and gradual, like shepherding your next generation, like moving on when it is positive growth and not just rearranging the proverbial tired old furniture. 

To best change, each of us has to be mindful of our inbred attitude.

#yongkevthoughts