There’s nothing like an apocalypse movie to churn things up at New Year
This is more frivolous than it sounds
I did a foolish thing the other night. Right before I went to sleep I watched “Leave the World Behind” on Netflix. I loved it but I also paid a price with lost sleep.
It’s probably not a good movie for a recovering insomniac. (Note: this doesn’t mean you can never watch terrifying films/TV, you just shouldn’t watch them right before you go to bed) Of course, after viewing the film my dreams were filled with big questions: “What would I do, if I was in a similar situation?” And “Is it time to consider constructing a secret underground bunker?” Apparently Facebook/Meta co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is working on this already.
In the cold light of day (because the problem-solving part of your brain isn’t fully functioning in sleep mode) I realised that living through COVID was a kind of apocalypse training.
Remember the moments when some humans showed off their worst traits like fighting over toilet-paper and pantry items? For others, like our senior residents and people living with chronic conditions or ill-health, COVID remains a very real existential threat.
For me, an apocalypse movie is a reminder that life is short.
If you are sixteen, it probably won’t feel that way unless you’ve suffered a major upheaval. If you’re sixty you become alert to the number of people YOUNGER than you who die. And you probably notice parts of your body that don’t work as they once used to. Both are quite normal.
On Christmas Day, my family played a game around the table reflecting on what the year had brought each of us. It had to be a spur-of-the-moment reflection and it had to be personal rather than a group event or achievement.
It was a joy to listen to these micro stories; moments of awe, of pride, of self-revelation. My favourite revelation came from my father-in-law who, in 2023, visited an outback dinosaur museum and marvelled at the sheer size of these beautiful monsters.
On New Year’s Day, I don’t plan to design my dream bunker. I want to discover more about dinosaurs (metaphorically). I want to marvel more; to pollinate my curiosity and contemplate projects that make a tiny difference.
I resolutely don’t like resolutions but I’m not averse to signing up for a few challenges at new year or any day thereafter. Last year I did this:
Mat and reformer Pilates teacher accreditation
Learning Japanese on Duolingo (every day for 148 days)
Beginner’s genealogy course with the Society of Genealogists
Journalism and speaking on the subjects of ageing, conversations and family stories
Writing my next book
This year, I’m preparing for my show Lost in Shanghai which begins a regional tour starting in Sydney (Chatswood) on Friday February 16th, 2024. I hope I get to meet some of you during the tour so we can talk about family stories. Here’s the schedule.
What are your plans for 2024? Will you be discovering dinosaurs or designing your bunker? Wishing you peace, safety and fulfilment in the days ahead.
Thanks Jane for the inspiring New years message. Hope to see you on your tour . Best wishes
I, too, have been learning Japanese on Duolingo - a little bit each day for over a year now. I wanted to be able to say at least a few bits and pieces when I finally visit Japan this year, and it also seemed like a good way to put my ageing brain to the test. Duolingo is great for learning vocab, but I found myself feeling frustrated when it came to learning grammar, so I started face to face classes, too. I'm a bit surprised, really, by how much I'm enjoying it! I'm not sure it's a great way to prepare for the apocalypse but if that comes to pass, I'll be saying, "かんぱい" !