“Now we’ve got holes in our hearts
Yeah, we’ve got holes in our lives
Well, we’ve got holes
We’ve got holes, but we carry on.”
- Passenger
How do we address the holes in our lives?
The holes created by the loved ones we’ve lost to death, geography, or estrangement?
The holes that form from the changes and losses we experience as we move from one life stage to another – from the innocence and wonder of childhood to the infirmity and frailty of old age?
The holes initiated by our culture from the fear of ‘being less,’ the pressure of ‘being more,’ the anxiety of keeping up with the Joneses, finding one's tribe and belonging, and the need for validation?
The holes of our failures and mistakes, the holes of losing faith in ourselves and our abilities?
The holes fashioned by the illusion of separation, amplified by social media environments and political structure echo chambers that affirm a group’s worldview while preventing exposure to other viewpoints?
The holes shaped by the ‘isms’ – the hatred and fear of the other – whether by race, nationality, gender identity, religious beliefs, age, or any factor where we place ourselves arrogantly above others?
The holes cut when the pain of the Earth and the loss of species and nature pierces us?
There are so many holes in this modern world, yet we must carry on. Some do that by numbing the pain in some form of addiction, such as food or drink, drugs, shopping, or gambling. Some pretend that the holes do not exist and hide behind a mask. Others fall into their holes, incapacitated by depression or trauma, unable to exit by themselves. Some aim to harm others, creating new holes bigger than theirs and spreading the pain. How do you deal with your holes?
Maybe there are lessons to be learned from our collective existence's precarity, brokenness, and imperfection. Perhaps we need to sit with the pain, uncertainty, and emptiness, compost all of it, and use it as fertilizer for future growth.
Here’s the acoustic version of the song:
Brilliant!