It is easy enough to skip over an apparently cheesy title, especially coming from a guy in finance. For sure, in most minds, I am here to provide guidance allowing for numeric success through avoidance of risk, but this is exactly my issue: In pursuit of too many quantitative aspirations, the world seems to be losing its grip on what has been deemed essential to the foundation of modern civilization. Admittedly, today's global society is facing many layers of challenges, some of which seem impossible to bear, and yet I am of the firm belief that our "wiring" as human beings allows us to address most, if not all of them, in a somewhat simple way--pretty much just by how we choose to live our lives.
Experts agree that there are only two basic emotions: love and fear. Describing love appears to be an easier one, and in my oversimplified way of approaching a definition, encompasses all we can "embrace" without doubt or calculated outcomes. Love is the most pure condition--not only between human beings--and is expressed through a willingness to find beauty in existence overall. Every religion, philosophy, and value system, at least to my knowledge, has embraced this concept as a virtue, and "hijacking" its very principle is merely the ill-guided effort of a few. Fear is very much the controlling opposite, with hate as the most common derivative. It is for this reason that the distance between human beings should be measured in fear, often anchored in an unwillingness to accept differences.
I was recently reminded how that gut-wrenching competition between love and fear feels when my daughter was hurt. Before the relieving diagnosis came in, I was contemplating that every parent, regardless of race, religion, and cultural influences, would have felt despair paired with an uncompromising willingness to turn things around for the better. Building on this concept brings me back to the height of the Cold War, and how the world coped with geopolitical aggression. Relief can always be found through the expression of art--another form of embrace--and it was not only the artist Sting who produced a top-ranking hit with his message, "I hope the Russians love their children too," but also German-born singer Herbert Groenemeyer, who proclaimed to "render command to the children as they are not calculating their actions."
During those "cold" eighties, I was asked to write an essay with the conclusion, "this is why I cannot hold a gun," in a pursuit to be able to choose a civil service in lieu of mandatory German military training. My approach was complex and simple at the same time: As an exchange student in the U.S. (after having left the comfort zone of my own childhood), I had to acknowledge early-on that travel and immersing oneself in other cultures allows for a deeper respect and understanding of differences altogether. To this day, my family will skip the purchase of "things" in place of experiences we can share, and most, if not all of them, involve travel. Regardless of budget, there is almost always an opportunity to "get out" and develop greater perspective, even if it is limited to walking parts of New York City or any other metropolitan center with a rich mix of cultures.
All in mind, we need to discuss the current political landscape, which is challenging and alarming at the same time. Topics far removed geographically, nevertheless, have made it to the domestic agenda, and a recent suggestion to register individuals based on their religion is nothing short of a morbid mirror of the past--and a very concerning history that gripped the entire world. To love and embrace (staying with my definition) also means to take advantage of what we have been left with by our ancestors as "teaching moments." We are given intellectual capacity to reflect and to change outcomes, and not to become victims of suppressed will. Our love should also include passionately and willingly creating the foundation for educating and leading our future generations, particularly as it relates to tales of courage and kindness.
Over the course of this festive season, and with an upcoming new year in mind, I am suggesting to take a risk in love. The basis for this endeavor should be the way we would like to be accepted as individuals, including the imperfection each of us brings to the proverbial table. Let us also remember, in this respect, that it is not the big act that counts, but rather the small deed, focused attention, and willingness to embrace one another, especially when our differences may instill fear. Happy Holidays!
With kind regards,
Matthias
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