Summary

The provided text reflects on the transformation of societal attitudes from fear and disconnection to unity and environmental responsibility, emphasizing the resilience and evolving consciousness of humanity in the face of global challenges.

Abstract

The article discusses the shift in societal mindset from a place of existential dread, where individuals felt "too sick to live, too afraid to die," to one of collective hope and action. Originally penned as song lyrics over three decades ago, the words capture a time of punk rock, death metal, and nihilism. However, the narrative moves towards a more optimistic outlook, noting that people, including the author, have become more positive, enlightened, and spiritually connected. The pandemic acted as a catalyst for this change, teaching the importance of community and shared responsibility. The text highlights the strength and resilience of humanity, particularly in overcoming the pandemic, and calls for a continued evolution towards a more spiritual and united society. It underscores the urgency of environmental conservation and the role of the younger generation, Millennials, and Gen Z, in driving global unity to address ecological crises. The author emphasizes that with collective action, optimism, and responsibility, society can reverse negativity and create a positive future.

Opinions

The author expresses a personal transformation from a fearful and disconnected mindset to one of hope and community.
There is a critique of the past era's focus on individualism and the negative impact of punk rock and death metal subcultures on societal attitudes.
The pandemic is seen as a significant event that fostered a shift towards a more empathetic and community-focused society.
The text suggests that people have become more aware of their impact on the environment and the necessity of global unity to tackle climate change.
The author believes that younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are key to driving change and saving the planet.
There is an emphasis on the power of collective action, especially through voting and activism, to overcome negativity and apathy.
The author conveys a sense of urgency and optimism, suggesting that society is on the brink of a significant positive transformation if it continues on its current path.

Too Sick to Live, too Afraid to Die.

Some people are always caught in the middle again

Some people are always caught in the middle again. “They are too sick to live but too scared to die. They cut off all the pleasures of life because they don’t want to risk putting themselves out there.

They fear death but are so scared they are afraid to die. They watch the news, they get confused. No matter where you turn, it’s all a burn.

Don’t turn your head, you might end up dead. Go for a ride in your new car, but don’t go too far. Hello welcome, it’s party time. Hey bro, can you spare a dime?

You can’t relax, gotta watch your back. Don’t stray too far from the pack. Murders and riots, nothing is ever quiet.

Dangers and chores, maybe go on a diet. Crazy calls on your phone, gotta watch the ozone.

Bad news, born to lose.

You’re too slow to live, too fast to die. Good news, bad news, makes no difference what you choose. Watch TV, the instant eye. Republicans hate Democrats, makes no difference who you are.

Religion and politics, such a strange brew. Hard to mix, hard to lose.

Step on a crack, break your momma’s back. Go too far this time, fall off the fast track.

Baby your life is right off the rack. Help me out, take it back. Before I get a heart attack.

Because I’m too sick to live, too afraid to die.”

These are words from a song I wrote over 30 years ago.

A lot of people felt that way back then, and a lot of people still feel that way today. It was the age of punk rockers, death metal, and nihilism.

But something funny happened along the way.

A lot of people, myself included, became more positive, more enlightened, more hopeful, more spiritual.

Slowly but surely, people’s consciousness began being raised. We started seeing ourselves as a community, not isolated groups of individuals.

We started to notice, that if we cared, it made a difference.

It starts out with the little things, the day-to-day kindnesses, the awareness that we don’t have to be alone anymore.

Sure, the pandemic caused a massive change of thinking, but in the end, it was a devastating but now almost forgotten state of mind.

We survived the pandemic, most of us, and we learned a lesson.

We humans are strong, we are stronger than we ever guessed.

We took a hard hit, a shot straight to the heart, but we lived through it.

Now it’s time to change again, to evolve onto a more spiritual track.

In the last few years especially, people are taking on more responsibility in their attitudes.

We are more united than ever in resolving to save the planet, to give some relief to Mother Gaia, doing her best to hold it together.

The environment is the one thing we must all unite in, but we can do that.

The youth all over the world, especially the Millenials and Gen Z, are facing up to the fact that if we don’t unite we will have nobody but ourselves to blame.

They are already connecting in ways we can’t even understand in the rapidly evolving technological world they grew up in as an integral part of their lives.

The good people of the earth want to unite to save the planet, not reap the whirlwind.

They have the numbers, the strength, and the enthusiasm already. Now we just have to help them out.

Move the levers of power in the ballot box, shut down the negativity of the damned and the doomed, and face up to the reality the youth have already accepted as their mission in life.

We are so close to reversing the negative and regaining the positive.

Faith can move mountains. In numbers, there is strength.

All we have to do is follow through. We are so close. We are all connected…