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Are you worried yet?

Is it time to get just a little worried about the future?

As I was scanning the newswires for ideas this morning, I noticed that there are a lot of things that seem to be teetering on the brink of disaster.

The conflict between Iran and the USA seems to be escalating by the day.

Ukraine and Russia are ramping up the scale and frequency of their missile and drone exchanges.

RAM and SSD prices continue their upwards spiral with little chance of relief for at least the next two years, according to experts.

The AI balloon continues to inflate at an ever-increasing pace, despite warnings from a growing number of observers.

Fuel prices look set to soar to new records due to increasing insecurity of trade routes.

Is there any good news out there?

I did search for some, but couldn't find any.

Well perhaps we can appreciate the fact that down here in the Southern Hemisphere, the shortest day is now a month behind us so the days will soon start getting longer, the temperatures warmer.

Oh yes, but I forgot to mention earlier that the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing record high temperatures which are, according to the common wisdom, linked to near-runaway climate change.

Oh, and did I mention the rampant rate at which the cost of living is increasing, hugely outpacing incomes in countries like New Zealand?

I guess that if you were someone given to fits of depression, things could look pretty bleak right now. If that's the case, try to ignore the fact that waiting lists in the public health system are also as long as they've ever been so getting expert treatment for that depression could take a while.

At times like this I think the only way to maintain one's joie de vivre is to simply recognise the truth that worrying about the things you can't change will only tire you out and worsen your situation.

Instead, find the little things that bring you joy and make room for them on a regular basis in your life.

Nothing you or I can do will make the slightest bit of difference to the progression or outcomes of the various military conflicts around the world. Treat AI as a tool or a curiosity but don't get too dependent on it. If your existing computer is barely capable of running the latest software titles for lack of RAM or SSD storage -- just use older software and enjoy the retro experience.

Find a good book and a peaceful place to relax. Bathe in the glory that is the human imagination and the immersive nature of reading. Thanks to libraries and second-hand stores, books can be very cheap as well as being highly portable, robust and will operate even if the power goes out.

If you don't already have a hobby, look around and see if you can find something that creates a spark in your soul. Whether it's something as simple as carving random lumps of wood into objects of art, sketching with pencil and paper, building models or whatever -- hobbies are a great way to escape the pressures and worries of the daily grind and a world gone mad.

It can also help to limit your exposure to the evil interwebs and that social media thing that everyone is complaining about (says the man who relies on YouTube for a living).

My solution to internet over-use is to stick with a dumb-phone. My $39 bar phone only does SMS and voice calls. This means that every time I leave the house I also leave email, social media and other distractions behind me. When I go for a walk (or should I say "when I used to be able to go for a walk before my nerve injury) all I get is peace and quiet. It's fantastic.

In a world where technology shapes our lives on an almost hourly basis, sometimes it's just cathartic to step away and enjoy the simpler things in life -- even if only for a few hours or perhaps just a few minutes. Do this regularly and you may find that the positives begin to outweigh the negatives.

Legal disclaimer: this information should not be considered medical advice. Do not remove the labels from your matress. Do not run with scissors.

Carpe Diem folks!

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