Dear Dubblemonkey, you had an inspiring thing to say;
"but ...despite my abhorrence of this human self absorption!

sometimes humanity can unite and put aside opinions and personal self absorption...

and consider the things of more importance"

Yes we can. Maybe we can give up some of our personalizing our experiences and contemplate what is good and joyful. Besides all the suffering, is the joy of this moment with birds singing and blue skies and sunshine dancing on the ripples of the lake. The glass is not all empty or all full, but half empty and half full.
Yes death is the great uncertainty, but finding the half of the glass that is full lightens this load.