Doubling up

November 17th

This week, the population of the world passed the 8 billion mark. When I was born, it was at 4 billion. So in the 48 years since I am here on Earth, it perfectly doubled. The number 8 billion is preposterously abstract for my comprehension and doesn't tell or mean anything to me. I don't see it or feel it in my everyday life. Of course, I can consult almanacs and historical data and see very clearly how the population of places I know and lived in expanded. Or decreased — there are places that lost residents since I lived there. But I don't feel this 8 billion number at all.

I know it’s too many. It was already too many when the number was getting to 5 billion, then the 6 billion just happened, then 7 billion came and went, and now 8 billion is just meh. Who cares when it will soon reach 9 billion and more? It is already not sustainable and causes an extreme strain on nature that surrounds us and economical and social and political relations. But, nothing can or will be done about it. It is not healthy to worry about things that we have no control over, or things that once put in motion — cannot be stopped — so I just accept the inevitable.

On the other hand — there are 8 billion hopes and dreams bubbling in every single one of us. 8 billion individual stories and points of view. 8 billion potential creators and makers of something beautiful. 8 billion potential soulmates or friends or acquaintances. 8 billion chances for change and growth. 8 billion chance not only to make individual lives better but also those around every single one of us. 8 billion love stories. 8 billion tragedies and 8 billion triumphs. Very few of those will ever be told to the outside audience, but no matter. They are there every second of every hour of every day — and this I accept with pleasure.