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I recently came across the expression ‘false dawns.’ Down this rabbit hole I went, as I thought it would have interesting self-reflections at the end.

Do rabbit holes really ever end?

First, what are false dawns? The expression refers to historical moments of great hope for significant change for the better. A couple of examples would be the Arab Spring, and Brexit.

Let’s explore Brexit.

Boris, the former mayor of London, and then Prime Minister of Britain, loved the spotlight. He thought the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union (EU) would be an excellent pot-stirring topic.

Be careful what you wish for.

It had a mix of supporters and detractors. Oh, such fun!

Then the idea caught hold, and it started to get away from him. It turned into a ballot box issue, and the vote was very divisive, with older folks wanting to ‘make Britain great again’ – a longing for the old days of the British Empire and world status. Younger folks wanted opportunities that Britain by itself couldn’t provide. Career paths are an example.

Those wanting to leave won with a vote of 51.9%. Imagine a cataclysmic change by less than 2%. If the vote were held again right after the first, who would vote who didn’t in the first vote? Who would change their vote?

The vote in the Quebec referendum to leave Canada in 1995 was 50.58% to stay! If just 0.28% of voters changed their vote from stay to leave, the Canada we know today would be different. That moment that didn’t happen could have been a false dawn.

Brexit was a false dawn, as many heralded the change and saw great things ahead for Britain. The headlines 10 years later in Britain are about how to rejoin the EU.

There is nothing like reality to bring out unintended consequences.

I try not to get strongly political in my Blogs, so I’ll leave any comparison to referendum votes in Alberta about separating from Canada to you, the reader.

This rabbit hole had interesting possibilities for self-reflection. Did I have any personal false dawns?

When I first left home to make my way in the world, I was filled with fear and hope. I promised myself that I would not return home to live there again. It wasn’t a bad place at all. But I knew my future was not as an English-speaking Quebecer. If I returned home, I’d have to leave all over again. I might as well tough it out in the world.

Thankfully, that moment etched in my memory was not a false dawn. I kept my promise not to return to live at my Quebec home. I created my own identity that I continue to parse and adapt.

I tried thinking of false dawns I personally experienced. My wife and I discussed possible false dawns in my life, but we came up empty-handed. At first, I was shocked. The only reason I haven’t had these false dawns in my life is how I frame moments.

They are learning moments. They don’t last forever. I have control over some elements. When I left home, I went to Vancouver and couldn’t find a job in social work. No wonder I had a science degree from McGill University. I aimed lower and took a job at a fast-food restaurant. Night shift. I may have fibbed a bit about my experience to get hired. But I got a raise shortly after starting, as I so impressed the owner.

Please give this a bit of a think. Do you have any false dawns in your life? Did you dodge any such moments?

Please comment: Send me an email with your bit of a think. I am curious about your thoughts.

Photo by Chris Galbraith on Unsplash. Is it dawn or dusk?

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