The Collapse Will Not be Like the Thunderdome

An essay by Sharon Astyk

Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

From Shaunta: Read toward the end to see Sharon’s predictions from a year ago — and how spot on they were.

By Sharon Astyk
Originally published on June 6, 2021

Despite a million novels and movies and tv shows, the reality of an apocalypse for most people is a lot like enlightenment: On the day before, chop wood, carry water. On the day after, chop wood, carry water.

The only way you get out of day-to-day living — and the hard, but deeply necessary work it entails in a crisis — is if you are one of the folks under the volcano.

And since no one wants that for themselves or their own, you have to make sure that you can chop wood and carry water while also carrying the strain, the grief, the anger, and dealing with the new, harsher realities.

And that means making sure you CAN carry them, even if they don’t come as easily.

In the last year, a lot of people, especially women, have been shocked and horrified that so much that was collective responsibility was thrust back on the individual.