loving art, science and creative kids

Festival Wisdom

Posted on 7/27/2019 2:02:47 PM by Marilynne Eichinger - Comment on this
Topics: Art | Psychology of self | social commentary

Eastern Oregon Contemplative

Oregon’s High Desert is a special blend of plains and mountains. I never tire of traveling through it’s ever changing beauty. Last week I spent four days partying on a ranch near Grass Valley. Mount Hood formed a distant backdrop to our activities.

Festival Wisdom

After four days of frolicking, dancing, swimming and talking to visitors in my “Do You Need A Mother? booth, I returned from Shift Festival impressed with the dreams, creativity, and desires young adults have to live purposefully in a loving community. Approximately 1300 science, engineering and art buffs who enjoy techno music and electrified art attended. They were well educated, multi-generational, culturally diverse adults who averaged thirty-five years. Most are happily employed, but a surprisingly large number are upset about the direction their journey is taking them.

My “mother booth” was a magnet for those trapped by a reality they want to shed. It attracted dreamers not knowing how to attain their goals and college graduates unable to find jobs in their fields. I met men and women struggling to overcome the trauma of war, those laid off from work, And people who lost loved ones to illness or divorce. There were confused voices worried by overpopulation, environmental degradation, nationalist hatred and greed.

College debt forced many graduates to take employment with Uber, Lift or Amazon. Some discouraged young adults accepted jobs as barristers or served tables in restaurants. Their work did not reflect their ambitions.By the time they reached thirty they gave up on the idea of marriage and didn’t want to bring children into a world in disarray. Instead they sought escape from what they were doing by floating from concert to party to festival where they take drugs in hope of gaining insight into the meaning of their existence.

I left the Shift saddened by listening to bright, intelligent people with little hope for their future and realized what a difficult a struggle they actually do have before them. They face a different world than my friends and I did as young adults. We were in a white privileged class of people who married during our twenties and raised children who along with our jobs, defined our purpose. Family provided meaning and we found employment that kept us stimulated by work we loved. We stayed in our jobs long enough to develop close friends and lived in neighborhoods that contributed to our sense of belonging.

It wasn’t until the sixties and seventies that we became aware of social inequalities, but when we did, we understood, and decided to do something about them. Working to change the status quo added to the purpose of our lives. We joined the civil rights and women’s movements and boycotted grapes to help farm workers. We marched against the Vietnam war and held rallies for a woman’s right to choose. We were loving, fought for justice and were empowered by our ability to bring about change. Most of all, we were passionate and alive with ambition and determination.

Today, when I look into the eyes of young adults expecting to see intent and desire to improve humanity, all too often I see apathy, fear and burn-out from trying to survive. Those with adequate salaries falter mid-life and ask why they continue to work at hollow endeavors. They see and speak of injustice, but find it difficult to change the course of their lives and take action for change. They continue as underpaid teachers, social workers, nurses, waiters, farmers, and scientists and crave to be part of the the one percent of high paid lawyers, developers, bankers and media executives. They don’t really think about reducing the wage disparity between the poor and super wealthy as labor unions did in by gone days. During free hours they escape to social media sites and entertainment , trying to live a life without expectations. They drift without hope.

Well . . . too bad. Bringing about change means getting involve and grappling with the problems of our time. In a world of automation, overpopulation, and robots there may never be enough “meaningful’ jobs for everyone. However, that does not mean there are not plenty of opportunities to leave your mark and find purpose. There is much that needs to be done by those willing to put in the time and effort to bring about change.

I believe that three undertakings give life meaningful. The first involves staying curious and continuing to learn, grow and try new things. Second is to work for social justice and to leave the world a better place that it was when you arrived. Third is to be kind, compassionate, and willing to help family, friends and neighbors. Those following these precepts will never be lonely but will continue to dream, feel connected and maintain purpose throughout their lives. They will know life as a journey and enjoy its many rewards.