Necessities of Life

Last night, I made a mistake...

I read posts on my neighborhood's Facebook group.

I live in a new build community that still has some parts of the neighborhood under construction.

Lately there has been a lot of information being passed on the group about the street closure schedule so asphalt can be put down.

Yesterday, this was posted by a neighbor:

Is anyone else pissed that we moved our cars for absolutely nothing this morning???? I just checked my camera on Blue Rock and not an asphalt truck in sight!!!

I will say that a majority of the replies mentioned where other neighbors saw the asphalt crew, and some include photos or videos.

If I would have just scrolled on, things would have been fine.

But I'm a bit of a button pusher...just ask my wife.

She says I excel at it.

I don't know this neighbor, but I felt compelled to comment.

There's a lot going on in the world today, and on the surface, this post seemed to reflect a very self centered, narrow view of the world. The kind of world view that perpetuates the massive challenges humanity faces right now.

So I commented thus:

Climate change, racial inequality, food and water quality constantly under attack, but this is the thing to get pissed about? 🤔

I know, I should have just left it alone. No one ever changed someone through social media.

I'd just like people to reflect for a moment, that maybe there are bigger issues at work in the world. It doesn't change our life situation, but maybe some awareness of the big picture could help.

This morning, I was tagged in this reply from said neighbor:

yes when you have a toddler who has a meltdown by the pool (because he thinks we are going swimming) because you have to walk by it, to get to your car, you had to move for no reason.. Have you ever experienced a toddler meltdown??? Not the first fun thing to do in the morning…..But I had my coffee after and I’m ok with the world again. Thanks for commenting neighbor….

With a little more context, the reality of this neighbor's frustration becomes more clear.

I mean, people need to vent. Life happens...I get it.

I didn't tell this neighbor that yes, I have experienced toddler meltdowns (I'm a father to five).

I didn't always handle toddler meltdowns well, although with experience I think I got better at it.

But this all seems so present in my mind because of what I'm reading.

I just started reading "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau. (My wife pointed out she read this on her own in 6th grade and again for a class in high school...I've never read it, though I've owned a copy for 30 years or so).

In the beginning of "Walden," Thoreau talks about "necessities of life."

He comments that what most civilized people consider to be "necessities" are most certainly not necessary to life.

I think Thoreau was speaking, in a sense, about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs long before Maslow was born...physiological and safety needs being of utmost importance.

I guess I've seen enough "The Walking Dead" and "Falling Skies" episodes to really question what most people consider "necessary."

I get the same way when I see people posting about something they "can't live without."

I've given myself headaches by rolling my eyes so hard at those posts.

What are necessities of life?

What's truly important?

Was it worth it for this neighbor to be pissed about "moving her car for no reason?"

Maybe for her it was.

Is it scary and overwhelming to think about the huge issues facing the world outside of our communities?

Of course it is!

Is it my place to point out when people are catastrophizing things that will be forgotten in a day or two?

Probably not.

I could have had a more compassionate view of the situation too. I've had toddlers...I get it.

At the same time, when I see someone so blatantly demonstrating the small way they are thinking, I want to metaphorically slap them and say, "Hey! Knock it off! You're better than this!"

Humanity needs each an every one of us to get through our own crap, and get on to the wisdom and gifts we are meant to share with this world.

The world, humanity, is depending on us.

Asphalt crews will be behind schedule.

Toddlers will have meltdowns.

Self righteous bloggers will button push neighbors.

But we all have work to do folks.

Let's get to it!