According to the blog folder I keep on the cloud somewhere, it’s not true that I didn’t write a blog post in the last two years.
But writing and publishing aren’t the same thing (just ask my third episode of This is Modern Living. It sits somewhere, also “in the cloud”, waiting to join its siblings on the outside, but knowing it doesn’t have an ending.
Two years ago, when I wrote the preceding blog post, I was in NYC. I escaped there for four weeks, renting a room in a six-storey walk-up on Houston and Eldridge.
My job of almost six years was over. I hadn’t felt anything in months. When I left Melbourne, Hilary Clinton was on her way to becoming the first female President of the USA. When I landed in LA 14 hours, the news reminded us that a one-in–20 chance is still a good chance. Trump rolled a natural 20 and nobody knew how to feel. I had transported myself to be a numb person surrounded by other numb people.
What I love about New York, though, is its perseverance. Those who move to NYC to pursue a dream do so knowing it’s going to be difficult. There will be hardship. The people in that city continue to exist despite others. They help each other through the hardship.
Two years later and my home was rocked by mindless violence. In Melbourne a man set a car on fire and started stabbing people. He killed a man who meant a lot to many Melburnians. Sisto Malaspina lived his life publicly as the perfect emblem of Melbourne: he made us feel welcome and he fed us.
So much of Melbourne feels touched by his death. So many of us were touched by his life.
I’m seven hours away, by plane. I’ve been living in Singapore for the past 5 months. This country has had the some government for the last 53 years. The current Prime Minister (Singapore’s third) is the son of their first. Some people criticise the government (privately, in their cars). Some continue to spruik the country, taking huge pride in its cleanliness and its airport.
It’s rare to hear a siren here. I don’t know what that means except it's a clear sign I’m not in Melbourne or NYC.
My life has changed a lot in the last two years. I’ve accomplished more than I thought I would. A couple of months later I started a new job. I learnt a lot. I met a lot of passionate people who what to make the world better and intend to do so with technology.
I’m feeling more hopeful than I was then. There’s a lot more to be hopeful about. Nihilism has its benefits, but hope is more likely to get results. That’s where what I’m sitting with now. Hope, action and support. Let’s give that a try.