This is my latest dialogue with Nigel Summerley…

NS: Recently seeing the movie A House Of Dynamite – about a world on the edge of nuclear disaster – was a reminder, if one were needed, about how the existence of all humanity hangs by a slender thread. And that that is a horrifying situation of our own making. A world without human beings seems a distinct possibility – add climate change and pandemics to the nuclear threat – so how do you feel about that?

SP: How do I feel about that? Bloody marvellous! Let's wipe out all humans and hand the planet back to less self-centered and destructive creatures! (with apologies to my readers!)

NS: There are a few other self-centred creatures out there... but I agree, human beings seem to win the prize for the most self-centred – and ultimately self-destructive – behaviour. Even now, when it has been spelt out to us that climate change has reached the tipping point for making the planet uninhabitable for us, we are still busy investing in yet more weapons of mass destruction, not to mention wasting precious resources of energy and water on establishing vast data centres to support universal use of smartphones and the development of AI. Can we do anything to change course? Or is it a case of surrendering to evolution – and extinction?

SP: Reading what you have said Nigel, yes, I do think it is part of our evolution, and as individuals, we are not in a position to do anything about it at all. This is far beyond our reach. And it has always been the case. This is where our evolution is taking us. So how to live a happy life is actually an inside job, right? 

NS: I guess we have been gifted a life – on a tiny island in this gigantic river of evolution. So yes, that is the one thing we can make the most of and somehow fulfil that life. But is it possible that what we all do with our lives may have some albeit small effect on evolution? Or is that wishful thinking?

SP: What effect are you imagining? What effect do you have yourself?

NS: If human consciousness is shared by – and common to – all human beings, then any shift in the "individual" may affect the "whole". Is that possible? On a more mundane level, our behaviour in relationship to others seems to have a knock-on effect. If I do a kindness to you, you are then more likely to do a kindness for someone else... and so on. What effect do I have? That's a very difficult question. The honest answer is that I don't know. In my earlier life I have sometimes not behaved well and so the knock-on effect from that would be likely to be negative. In my later life, I am doing my best to be kind and thoughtful to others. By being a vegetarian for most of my life, I would hope that has had some positive effects. But I still feel guilty because I'm not vegan! I'm sure that you, in your practice, have probably affected many lives for the better.

SP: I would really like to think that that is possible – yes! One little shift affects all. And paying it forward certainly helps. But we need to cast a bigger reach... I do try to help as many people as I can in any given day. It has become my natural way of life. And I live in my own bubble generally, blocking out the news in the bigger world as I don't want to pass on fear and negativity. I look after my Threshold Sanctuary with love and care here and have filled it with knowledge, plants, crystals, shells and stones... and so much more. Good energy, I would guess. So yes, I feel I do my bit – although I really don't see it that way. I follow my purpose. That is more accurate. And I feel really good about that. And I genuinely feel I am full of love... 

NS: I think you ARE full of love... and you obviously live by that creed of doing what you can to affect positively the lives and the environment around you. I try to do that too, although I may not always be successful. What worries me is that so many people – and most disturbingly those in political power – do the opposite of that... and their actions also affect all of us, whether we pay attention to them or not. Will our "bubbles of love" ever bring about real change? Or are they the only way we can function in this world without going crazy?

SP: It depends how you define crazy. I do my bit. I am happy with that. I have been with patients all day today helping them create healthy positive change in their own lives. I go to sleep tonight feeling super grateful. That is enough for me... 

NS: That's a pretty comprehensive answer. I guess if we can go to bed feeling that we did everything today that we could possibly do, that is perhaps as good as it gets. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us" as someone once said.

SP: Gandalf, I presume.

NS: Yes – and difficult to argue with that!