This Feels Relevant Now

Hi. Happy New Year.

Right now, at this very moment, you could certainly argue that shit is fucked up and bullshit. For all sorts of reasons.

But, it feels sort of important that we don’t. That we retain hope. That we strive for understanding, empathy, humanity. For compassion and care. And kindness. Harmony. All that dirty hippie bullshit.

Here is some dirty hippie bullshit that rang through my brain as I woke up this morning. It seems pertinent:

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, And Understanding

As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity.

I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

And each time I feel like this inside,
There’s one thing I wanna know:
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

’cause each time I feel it slippin’ away,
just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?

So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

’cause each time I feel it slippin’ away,
just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?”

(Those words were written by a man called Nick Lowe in the year 1974, right as dirty hippies were falling out of fashion. They are reprinted without permission. I hope that Nick Lowe is still into that whole “being understanding” idea).

Happy New Year. I love you.