Welcome to Bizarro World 2022

The last few years have been unreal on a global level.

I keep hoping that I'm either going to wake up, or find a wormhole that will lead me back to the other reality.

I keep looking for a portal that will bring me back to the parallel universe, which, if not necessarily better, at least had me too preoccupied to spend much time contemplating life's fragility and man's ugliness to man.

I'd like to think that ignorance is bliss. However, if I'm honest, I was anything but blissful in my distracted, ignorant, naive, oblivious former life.

As a matter of fact, I found plenty to be miserable about, to stress over and ruminate on, in that alternate reality.

I find myself wondering lately if that normal really is better than this "new normal?"

I've come to the conclusion that I am asking the wrong question.

Part of mindful living is realizing that there is no point in playing hypothetical games, resisting what is, and wondering what could have been.

The truth of the matter is, for the time being at least, this is the reality that I am in.

So the question shouldn't be was the pre-"Bizarro World" better? The question should be which version of me is better?

The unequivocal answer is, the present day, current universe, me.

Not despite all that has happened, but, because of it.

The pandemic, fake news, political divide, greed, infighting, struggle and loss oddly hasn't made me more bitter or fearful.

I somehow have become more grateful, compassionate, loving and present. I am not alone. Although many have used the last few years as an excuse to be more anxious, angry and greedy, others have not.

It all comes down to awareness and acceptance. That is, being aware of the current state of the world and life as it is, in the moment, and not inwardly railing against it.

I'm not saying we should necessarily like "what is". I AM saying we should realize that struggling against current reality is exhausting and futile, and ultimately only perpetuates our own suffering.

We can live our lives clenched and resisting the past, present and future, or we can un-clench, exhale and open up to life on its terms.

When we unclench and relax into life, we find that our walls come down, allowing not only the discomfort and pain to pass through, but allowing the love and gratitude to enter.