It's tough to be satisfied, even in good times

A useful paradox to consider right now is "The better things are, the worse they feel."

The gist of this paradox is that we all tend to be impatient and that impatience is actually accelerated when we are close to attaining our goal.

So, the delta variant and the chaotic flow of information about it leaves most of us quite anxious, despite the overwhelmingly good news about vaccines and their efficacy.

Things may seem worse today in terms of racial injustice. It is quite natural to wonder why we have not yet "solved" our racial problems and atoned for past sins. Our brains may tell us that clear progress has been made over the past half-century plus, but our hearts leave us frustrated and angry.

Sexism and males misusing power are in the news, as usual, this time with the Cuomo resignation, and we again find ourselves bemoaning how little many things have changed. Of course, many things HAVE changed, and we are slowly doing better as a society. It's fitful and glacial in some places, but...

This paradox helps explain why revolutions are almost always led by upper middle class people with education and not by the lowliest and most put upon slaves and servants. The slaves (or destitute) are so far from progress, so far from hope, that they can't even conceive of trying, and the "masters" do all they can to maintain that suppressed status.

For a writer, the space that is created when SOME progress has been made is full of opportunities. That is where more precise arguments and proposals thrive.

One last example of this paradox at work: the farther we advance in education, the less comfortable we tend to be. In early elementary years, almost everything is fascinating and our minds vacuum up facts and ideas in large quantities. By the time we are finishing a Masters degree in some focused discipline, the knowledge is more difficult to attain and understand, the frustrations are immense.

On that note: welcome to a new school year. I chose today only because we have two granddaughters whose first day of the new year is today. They attend a top-notch school, surrounded by talented teachers and fellow students, supported unconditionally by parents and (duh!) grandparents.

I look forward to hearing their complaints and ideas on how it all could be even better.