The real cost of living is not something you can attach a number to, like inflation, it is the abrasion of trust that the Universe, the world, life, is a gift and worth all the trouble.  If it were, then why do so many people act like they can't feel the miracle of being, or see the mind-blowing beauty of the universe?  We wonder.  Why do they need to harm others, for their own little temporary pleasures when all that does is add another drop to the ocean of darkness which has been rising since ancient times? Can't they see, we are chin deep already?  All of this, because they can't or won't see that the Universe is funking awesome, and that you Mr. Critter, are the Universe.  And They are the Universe.  We are the Universe. And we should feel joy all the time and never need to inflict pain on others in order to feel it. 


5-20-26 GPT:

The real cost of living cannot be measured in dollars or inflation. It is the gradual erosion of trust that life is a gift worth all the trouble.

If that trust remains intact, one naturally wonders why so many people seem unable to feel the miracle of being or to see the staggering beauty of the universe.

Why do we so often harm one another for small and temporary pleasures, adding one more drop to the ocean of darkness humanity has been accumulating for ages? We are already nearly submerged.

The tragedy is that we seem to forget something simple: the universe is astonishing beyond words.

And you, my friend, are part of it.

They are part of it.

I am part of it.

We are the universe, briefly aware of itself.

There is enough beauty in that fact to justify joy, and enough wonder that we should never need to cause suffering to feel alive.