Traversing to the new world\n

24/04/2020

‍ Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been in confinement (lockdown) — obliged to stay at home except for some very limited circumstances. All but essential businesses are closed. Here in France, There are things that we would like to do — but we can’t. It is like someone has pressed the pause button.

‍ In addition to being confined, everyone is suffering the anxiety of uncertainty. Many people around us are sick. Some have recovered. Some have died. This time of pandemic is not easy for anyone.

‍ The government has announced that things will begin to (very) gradually reopen after May 11th — after almost two months of confinement. The process will certainty be very long. Restaurants, cinemas, churches, and museums will be much later. The ability to travel? Things are still undefined.

‍ Life will be different when we reopen after this pandemic.

‍ Being confined here at home has been a period of transition — a period of being in between two worlds.

‍ This has gotten me to think of the early settlers — the Pilgrims* and others — who traversed the ocean to settle in a new world. This includes not the colonies of North America but also South and Central America, South Africa, and others. The left their familiar environment and spent long weeks confined on boats to emerge, at the end of their voyage, and transition to a new world that was very different from what they knew before. Not all survived. Many did and went on to build their new lives.

‍ This transition to a new life was then repeated by the movement of immigrants around the world. (Although for them, things were less uncertain since there were already structures in place, and maybe even family, in the new country.) As immigrants, they all left behind the familiar to face uncertainty and establish themselves in a new world.

‍ Looking forward to the “after” of this pandemic, we will all face a similar transition and experience similar feelings. Our world will be different in many regards.

‍ As we experience confinement, we are in a period of transition — from a familiar past to a new world. How long will it take? We don’t know. Like the Pilgrims on their voyage, we are still in the middle of the ocean.

‍ What will things be like in the future? We also don’t know. Exactly what it will be like is difficult to foresee. This, combined with not knowing how long it will take, naturally is a source of uncertainty and anxiety. We simply do not know.

‍ But, what is certain is that, like the Pilgrims and other immigrants before us, we will find ourselves in a new world. What will it be like? We will find out.

‍ We are headed to our new world. It will be for us to discover — and to define.

You may not agree with me but, That is how I see things.

Mark Louis Uhrich

Maisons-Laffitte, France, 24 April 2020

©Copyright Mark Louis Uhrich

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*The Pilgrims sailed from England to Massachusetts in 1620 on the ship Mayflower. Their voyage took 66 days.

Covid-19 — The Martian Chronicles

09/04/2020

I can’t get it out of my head.

With Covid-19 —confinement, isolation, and uncertainty plus add nationalism — I keep thinking of “The Martian Chronicles” by Ray Bradley. It’s not the same situation, of course. However, many of the same basic sentiments are there.

Things will be different in the future — they always are. In what way, we don’t yet know.

You may not agree with me but, That is how I see things.

Mark Louis Uhrich

Maisons-Laffitte, France, 9 April 2020

©Copyright Mark Louis Uhrich

For who does one study? For who does one learn?

29/06/2018

It is the end of the school year. Students are taking exams. Here in France, students have been taking the end of high school exams — the famous (or infamous) French BAC exams. The written portion of the exams begins with a four-hour essay exam in philosophy.

Early on the morning of that exam, I woke up with questions in my head: “For who does one study? For who does one learn?”

We can look at these questions on two levels. On a first (and obvious) level, one studies for themself — to learn and be able to support themself — hopefully doing something that they like.

On a deeper level, we can say that one studies and learns in order to contribute to society. (Again, hopefully doing something that one likes.) This might be in a professional activity, as a doctor, a journalist, a poet, working in a factory, being a tradesperson, designing things, working in a shop, being a parent or a caregiver, … — the list is endless. All are needed. Done well, all bring value and contribute to society.

So, for who does one study and learn? For both oneself and for society at large.

But, what about people who are self-centered and do not view themselves as contributing value to others and society at large? Maybe they provide value by showing us the example of what not to be.

You may not agree with me but, That is how I see things.

Mark Louis Uhrich

Maisons-Laffitte, France, 29 June 2018

©Copyright Mark Louis Uhrich

Thoughts on Happiness and Unhappiness

— A reflection*

08/05/2018

Living an international life puts one into their own space. Done properly, one is in a space that they define — on their own terms. Certainly, there are the usual daily pressures but one has had the opportunity to construct, to some measure, the life that they wish. In many respects, this has been true for myself.

This ability for the international person to define their life allows them to reflect on their views and values. In my case, I have had the luxury of being able to reflect on the meaning of “happiness” and “unhappiness”.

We see many definitions of happiness. We probably all know people who are constantly seeking happiness through the collection of material possessions — the new luxury automobile, the latest home entertainment system, the new boat, etc. These are all the symbols of success that feed the ego. Maybe you do that. I know that I used to.

I have learned that these things do not bring happiness. Each new acquisition gives a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction but it is temporary. There is an underlying sense of unease that remains.

Through my experiences, I have learned a very simple definition of happiness. In my definition, happiness is having a sense of self and being at harmony with oneself. This means, knowing who you are (in at least a vague sense) and being comfortable with who you are.(1) You are not going to be the richest or have the largest swimming pool in the neighborhood (or even one at all) but that does not matter. That is not what is important.

In contrast, unhappiness is not accepting or not being in harmony with who one is — with one’s self.

Happiness is not material possessions, fame, or power. Despite what the songs say, no one can “make us happy” (2). It comes from self.

You may not agree with me but, That is how I see things.

Mark Louis Uhrich

Maisons-Laffitte, France, 7 May 2018

*Extract from my work “On Being International” published in “Glocal” working — Living and working across the world with cultural intelligence, edited by Barbara Bertagni, Michele La Rosa, Fernando Salvetti. FrancoAngeli, 2010, 1529.2.110 .

(1) This includes knowing your shortcomings, accepting them, and being OK with that.

(2) Although someone else cannot “make us happy”, I would definitely agree that someone else can make one quite miserable. One can be happy to be with someone.

Harmony or Dissonance?

— A reflection*

18/04/2018

Music has harmony and dissonance.

Do I stay safe and go with the harmony — that which is familiar and comfortable?

Or, do I dare to follow the dissonance — what is different — true to myself?

Following the harmony may be easier.

Going with the dissonance may be more true.

You may not agree with me but, That is how I see things.

Mark Louis Uhrich

Maisons-Laffitte, France, 18 April 2018

*With thanks to Olaf Eriksson for the inspiration.