I always thought that signature was a comment on U.S. politics....

Seriously, this is a very thought-provoking and practical topic. My interest and activities to be better equipped were started by the realization ("awakening" might be an even better word) that the world, people, life, God don't owe me ease and comfort and, as others have noted here, the natural world is indifference in general and many times hostile in particular to not only my ease but my life.

Don't ask me how much of my life was spent under the delusion that the world, nature, society, government owed me ease and plenty. I'm glad for this forum.