Life is anything but static

Citation

Robertson T (2024) Life is anything but static. Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 15 (3), pp. 283-285. https://doi.org/10.1332/17579597y2024d000000025

Abstract
First paragraph: As I move about my day-to-day, dealing with the small and big deadlines, requests, pressures and, at times, leisure and relaxation opportunities, I, like many others, find it hard to detach from the ongoing atrocities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Gaza and the West Bank), Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside other conflicts around the world. In addition, there are the hardships closer to home many are dealing with, from the ‘Cost-of-Living Crisis’, increasingly exclusionary policies and approaches to migrants and refugees, and crackdowns on voices of dissent. It can all feel overwhelming and hopeless. But then there are the small and big acts of joy, kindness, silliness, friendship and love that puncture your day and change those feelings. This then combines with the positivity from seeing the collective action taking place on university campuses by students who recognise the need to raise difficult questions, challenge the status quo and create positive change. The research published by LLCS also shows this dichotomy. We typically look back at the factors that have predicted negative outcomes in people’s lives that can be concerning. However, other studies focus on the positive implications and of course, many consider both. Regardless though, we typically look back across people’s lives to learn for current and future generations rather than just navel gaze at the harms our societies can create. It is vital that we continue to explore the uncomfortable and upsetting aspects of people’s lives across generations to help create a better world. So please take the time, when you have it, to read this issue’s six articles that span the great work our journal is promoting and that the Society for Longitudinal and Life course Studies (SLLS) is doing to make those positives a reality for as many people as possible.

Journal
Longitudinal and Life Course Studies: Volume 15, Issue 3

People

Dr Tony Robertson

Lecturer in Geographies of Public Health, Biological and Environmental Sciences