Since most of the Covid restrictions have been lifted and people are once again gathering, I have been feeling overwhelmed by the numbers of choices I am forced to make.
First, being high risk by virtue of age and medical issues, I still need to assess each activity as to its degree of risk. How many people will be there? How big and well ventilated is the venue? What is the age profile of the attendees? I have the impression that younger folks are willing to take more risks.
Second, should I wear a mask? And, if so, should I wear it for the whole event or just until seated? How close are other non-mask wearers? My medical issues cause shortness of breath even without a mask, so I feel more at ease without it, but …
These are just some of the choices with respect to the ongoing risk of Covid and now, of course, the flu, as well. When I received my flu vaccine and Covid booster, I had to choose whether to have both in one arm or one in each arm.
Then there is the myriad of other choices and, in many situations, no clear right or even best answer. If I drive a car, should it be electric (EV), hybrid, plug-in hybrid or gasoline. The obvious answer appears to be electric, if possible. But how difficult will it be to charge it, and if everyone chooses EV, is there adequate electricity? Especially with all the new houses being built in Whitehorse with electric heating.
And how about food? Is it best to eat vegetarian, vegan, the traditional meat and potatoes, or one of the in-between options? Which is better for health? Which is better for my wallet? What is sustainable, affordable, enjoyable and just?
Should I buy local, at any price, or order online?
And this is only the beginning of my list of choices. Should my next vacation be one that requires a long flight, with all of the issues of climate change? Or should I do the “staycation” instead? What is the best way to share my abundance with folks who barely get by? My mailbox is full of requests from seemingly worthy causes, especially as the holiday season approaches. Which are the best ones, the most ethical ones?
The first time I recall being overwhelmed by choices was a very concrete situation. I had just returned from living and working for seven years in “poor” countries. I needed some big garbage bags and went to the nearest shop, close to where I was staying. It was a large Superstore in Winnipeg. When I eventually found the correct aisle, there were shelves and shelves of plastic garbage bags: green, black, orange, name brand, store brand, no name and packages of 5, 10, 25, 50. Some were on special, some were not. I could not decide. Abandoning my quest, I ran out of the store in tears and without any garbage bags. It was just too much.
Making so many choices every day can be stressful. Sometimes it causes me to lose track of the big picture.
However, it is a good thing to have choices. I know that I have had a privileged life, with lots of choices—choices about almost everything. I also know that there are many, perhaps most people in the world, who have few, if any, choices. And that number seems to be growing. I was able to leave a perfectly good house and job in Winnipeg because I wanted to live in the Yukon. And right now there are people all over the world who are being forced to leave their homes because of floods, fire, war, etc. I feel guilty for complaining about too many choices. But that’s the way it is.
I want my life to be meaningful and to live it mindfully. Many of these daily choices are not very important in the end. The task is to decide which are the important ones to reach that goal.
So, should I go to that concert, eat salmon or plant-based fish sticks, drive a car, take the bus or take a plane? Or should I buy 10 or 50 or no green garbage bags …?
