Arriving at the local hospital for an outpatient appointment, soaked head to toe after being caught in a storm, I complained to at least three people about the fact my trousers were wet, and the rainwater had soaked through my trainers into my socks.
I complained about all this giving no thought to the catastrophe heading towards Florida in the form of Hurricane Milton.
A category 5 hurricane that saw a meteorologist cry on national television when he became aware of its severity, it is said to be ‘unsurvivable’. It is likely he already knew that, and the utter devastation it would bring, hence his reaction.
TikTok and Hurricane Milton
TikTok is full of people saying they have not evacuated and plan to ride it out, one with a six-week-old baby, while officials in Florida are saying that anyone who stays will die. A feeling of impending doom has spread far beyond the borders of the US as the world looks on.
The nature of social media means that we get a glimpse into the lives of these families and communities. We see the faces behind the news stories, we see their fear and panic, and we are able to follow their journeys. It makes it all the more real and brings their plight into our homes.
Gaining perspective
For me, this has put things into perspective. How quickly I complained about my own life when the lives of others are in danger. I had wet trousers while others are facing losing their homes and their livelihoods, and possibly their lives and the lives of loved ones.
It’s easy to get absorbed in our own lives and our own struggles. While they are very real, for some of us, the situation in the Florida has created deep concern as well as a feeling of gratitude that we are not there; we are not having to face the devastation it will bring.
Self-Preservation and Survival
Being absorbed in our own lives is a natural tendency, and we all do it. It is a human reaction that happens for several psychological, biological, and social reasons. It can be driven by our need to survive, to make sense of the world, and to manage the complexities of daily existence.
We tend to pay close attention to our own health, safety, and stability, which can make us more concerned about our personal circumstances than those of others. It’s a way of making sure we meet our fundamental needs first.
Emotional Intensity of Personal Experiences
Our own thoughts and feelings are more immediate and vivid to us than those of others. We experience life from a first-person perspective, so our own struggles, achievements, and emotions can feel more pressing than what’s happening outside of us.
When we face challenges, whether it’s stress, anxiety, or personal goals, the emotional load can take up a lot of our mental energy. This makes it harder to focus on other people’s lives or broader issues.
Identity and Self-Exploration
As well as this, our brains have a limited capacity for attention and processing information. When we are absorbed in our own problems, it’s harder to extend that attention to the lives and experiences of others.
Developing a strong sense of identity is a part of being human. Our ego can sometimes lead us to focus more on ourselves and how we see the world, making it harder to consider perspectives outside our own.
A defence mechanism
Sometimes, focusing on our own lives is a way to protect ourselves from the overwhelming realities of the broader world. It can be a defence mechanism to avoid feeling powerless or overwhelmed by events we cannot control.
The troubles of the world
We don’t have the capacity to take on the struggles of the world, and at the moment there are many. We would be dragged down by war, death, destruction and grave concerns for the future.
Gratitude
I am feeling grateful for the life I have and the relative safety that life in the UK brings. Times like this are a stark reminder of the relative luxury we live in compared to many, and I am grateful to have been reminded of that.
Like everyone else, my thoughts are with the residents of Florida.
