Written by Jon van Wyk
Survival is a curious thing. As humans, we’ve been at it for a few aeons now, and while we’ve upgraded from caves to beachfront apartments, the basics of survival remain the same i.e., a series of unpredictable events that demand resilience, resourcefulness, and sometimes, pure good luck.
Let’s start with the everyday events, like the dreaded task of finding a car park during a big local event that you forgot was on. It’s like a scene straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie. Vehicles cruise the street like vultures, eyeing every potential spot. You find yourself clutching the steering wheel, engaging in silent, passive-aggressive warfare with other drivers. Eventually you listen to the better angels in your nature as you narrowly avoid a collision with someone who is waiting for a park against all the odds. When you finally spot a park of your own, it’s like a mirage, too good to be true.
You swoop in with the precision of an eagle and the relief of a marathon runner crossing the finish line.
Then, there are the more significant life events, like moving house, second only to dying, I’m told. The weeks of packing, the realisation that you own an unreasonable amount of things that ‘might come in handy one day,’ and the monumental task of carrying a couch up three flights of stairs. It’s a rite of passage that either makes or breaks the strongest of us. And let’s not forget assembling flat-pack furniture. It’s the ultimate relationship test. If you can survive that, you can survive anything.
Of course, there are also those unique, less frequent events like funerals or attending a wedding where you know only the bride. The struggle is real. You find yourself uncomfortably making polite conversation, trying to remember names, and master the art of balancing hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail without looking amateurish in front of the bridesmaid whose eye you are hoping to catch.
Survival here is often measured by how quickly you can leave without offending anyone.
On a grander scale, survival involves navigating the unpredictable twists and turns of life itself; ‘The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’, to quote Hamlet. At anytime we can beset by career changes, financial headaches, health scares, and personal losses. These are the moments that test our mettle and remind us of our human frailty. Yet, they also reveal our incredible capacity for resilience.
But here’s the kicker—survival isn’t a solo act. It’s a team sport. Despite our best efforts to ‘soldier on’ alone, the truth is, we need each other. Imagine grocery shopping without the cashier who tolerates your endless fumbling with change, moving house without friends who’ll carry that wretched couch, or surviving a wedding without the bridesmaid who becomes your unexpected dance partner.
In the grand symphony of life, it’s the connections we make and the support we offer that create the music. Without each other, our struggles become insurmountable, our joys less sweet, and our victories hollow. So, let’s hold on to one another, because, in the end, it’s not just about surviving—it’s about thriving together. And if we can’t do that, well, nothing else really matters, does it?
Album of the month
Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads
“Stop Making Sense” is a live album that captures the raw, electrifying energy of slick, highly polished live performances of music by Talking Heads and David Byrne in 1983. It was notable in that the album was accompanied by the release of a concert film in 1984, prefacing the concept of concerts filmed in high quality video and audio. From the iconic opening track “Psycho Killer” to the exuberant “Burning Down the House,” every song pulsates with life. David Byrne’s quirky, magnetic stage presence is perfectly complemented by the band’s tight, funky rhythms. The live versions breathe new dimensions into the existing studio classics, making each song feel fresh and urgent.
It’s an exhilarating auditory journey that showcases Talking Heads at their peak, blending art-rock eccentricity with infectious grooves. A must-listen for any music enthusiast.
