Look around. Seriously—pause for a second and take it all in. You can drive or fly across entire continents, refrigerate your food, have a roof over your head, stream music or movies whenever you want, and instantly connect with people across the globe through a small device in your pocket. If you need food, you can order it and have it delivered in under an hour. Need knowledge? Access entire libraries with a few taps. Need shelter? There’s likely a rental or property listing waiting for you online.

By almost every material measure, we’re living in an age of abundance, convenience, and connection that our ancestors could only dream of.

So why does it feel like the world is ending?

The Paradox of Progress

Despite all this, the dominant narrative we hear—on the news, on social media, even in day-to-day conversations—is that everything is falling apart. We're told that society is crumbling, the environment is doomed, the economy is collapsing, and that polarization, war, and dysfunction define our times.

It’s strange, isn’t it? On one hand, we’re living in an age where you can video call someone in another country while ordering sushi and watching a documentary about the cosmos—all from your living room. On the other hand, we’re constantly bombarded with messages that everything is going to hell.

It creates a kind of cognitive dissonance. We scroll through catastrophe headlines on devices powered by technological miracles. We post about societal collapse from climate-controlled homes with stocked fridges. We consume doom like it’s entertainment—meanwhile, life expectancy, literacy, and access to basic needs have improved across vast regions of the world.

The Gifts of the Present

Let’s not gloss over the real problems. Inequality, mental health struggles, environmental concerns, and geopolitical instability are serious issues. But let’s also not ignore what is working.

Mass transportation makes the world smaller.

Wireless communication keeps us connected in real time.

Mass production ensures that food, books, clothes, and medicine are more accessible than ever.

Streaming platforms give us unprecedented access to art, education, and entertainment.

Refrigeration and sanitation have revolutionized public health.

Social platforms allow voices from all walks of life to be heard.

It’s not perfect. No era ever has been. But we are undeniably surrounded by everyday miracles.

The Lens We Choose

So maybe the question isn’t just “Are we living in the greatest time to be alive?”

Maybe the real question is: Why are we being told that we’re not?

It’s worth asking: Who benefits when we’re anxious, divided, and overwhelmed? What does it mean when the most materially comfortable era in human history is plagued with a persistent sense of dread?

It’s easy to take things for granted when they become normal. But normal doesn’t mean insignificant. The fact that you can access clean water, electricity, shelter, transportation, communication, entertainment, and food—often within minutes—is nothing short of extraordinary.

Reclaiming Perspective

Maybe the world isn’t ending. Maybe we’re just being asked to see it through a distorted lens. Maybe the more access we have to information, the more we confuse awareness of problems with the idea that everything is a problem.

Let’s not forget: progress is real, and it’s all around us. The challenge now isn’t inventing more—it’s appreciating what we already have, protecting what matters, and continuing to build something better.

So, next time you hear that it’s all going downhill, take a look at the world around you. Not the headlines—the real world. The people you love, the tools at your disposal, the small conveniences that quietly improve your life every day.

And ask yourself: Is this really the worst time to be alive… or is it actually the best?