COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS WHEN STORM CLOUDS LOOM

Hmmm, how has it come to be that – in the midst of our relative prosperity and comfort – we are so often disenchanted with our lives?

I wrote a posting earlier this year entitled "A Rallying Call to Defeat Old Man Apathy". At that time I felt we were in the early stages of an apathy epidemic. I was disturbed to observe some signs of negativity and cynicism that seemed to be growing in frequency.

I have continued my observations in the months that have since passed. Now I am inclined to change my diagnosis. It seems to me that apathy is a symptom rather than the disease.

I'm still not able to definitively pin down the precise nature of the disease. In any case, it would be presumptuous of me to lay claim to the ability or the right to do so. But the symptoms of the disease continue to manifest themselves in what I can only describe as a storm cloud of discontent.

I see it in the expressions of people passing by me in the halls, the malls and pretty much anywhere where walls hem us in. It seems to dissolve, or go underground, when we are out of doors. It's a little bit like a vampire. Sunlight seems to be its mortal enemy.

I see it in so many shapes and forms: 

In disenchanted Facebook status lines
In end-of-the-work-day short tempers
In the Monday blues
In behind-the-wheel-of-a-car aggressiveness (like the woman who blew through a caution light this morning going way too fast)
In the "There has to be more to life than this nine to five grind." protests
In the "I'm too tired to object, I'll just let it slide." reactions

I have settled upon the storm cloud metaphor for good reason. Storm clouds roll in, unleash their wrath and quite often give way to sunshine again. The calm after the storm is often refreshing and uplifting.

Such is the case with the discontent I have observed. It bubbles up from time to time, vents itself and dissipates. The trouble is doesn't ever seem to quite let go anymore. The steam starts building again for the next go round.

I can't claim to have put my finger on the roots of this disease. But I'm pretty sure one of the causes is the nature of the business world these days. "Less is more" has become the universal mantra. In theory it means working more efficiently – more output from the same input. But, in practice, it increasingly means less people on a project with each person remaining expected to work harder.

I don't have a miracle cure for the disease. I'm not sure that one exists. But I do believe that we can choose not let the storm cloud darken our outlook. Taking the time to count our blessings is still the best universal remedy I know.

It's cloudy and rainy outside right now. But I know the sun will be back soon. That's but one of many blessings I can confidently count upon.

~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of "Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel" – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael's website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.

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