Up until last week I was a quite busy retired Senior Citizen. I not only babysat one of my granddaughters four days a week while her Mommy worked, but I taught a Creative Writing class every week, and a Journaling and Conscious Aging Class once a month at our local Senior Center. I also taught a Creative Writing Class at a retreat center once a month. I still had time to enjoy my friends and read and watch tv and do all of those other kinds of normal things. But then came the non-normal times that sent panic and fear through populations and a unity to quell the rising tide of an unknown virus. And, I find I have a lot more free time.
I am at least three parts that can move my focus as I choose to socially isolate because I am of that certain age. I value history and the unique perspective of people who live it. Documenting history from my view may be helpful further on down the line, or perhaps, even today. Who knows? Secondly, I am a writer. In teaching all of these classes and watching my granddaughter (which is joyful), I have moved away from understanding that. Thirdly, I have various backgrounds in therapy and education which inform me. All of these parts might coalesce and offer universal themes. I'll test it out.
Writing will be helpful to me in this time of uniqueness and hopefully, helpful to others. Perhaps we can start a discussion that is apolitical and kind as well as thought provoking. We may be isolated in person, but not in a created community.
Because of a seeming divide in our country, I’m hopeful that our all being in this time together to fight the spread of a disease, may push a reset button on this division. There are entrenched concepts on both sides, unwillingness to move along a spectrum. Everyone speaks as if they are an ‘expert' from their point of view. Some of us know more than others in certain areas, but disallowing opinions and a desire to figure out how to build a bridge over any chasm, causing everyone to shout to be heard, is not likely the endless loop that is beneficial to all.
And so my thought that perhaps these attitudes that have us on opposite sides of a chasm may allow us to narrow it to the benefit of all as we work together to stop the spread of this virus. Once we tackle this, we will not likely kumbaya away, but perhaps have a start at exploring our differences in ways that move us forward. This is my hope.
