Several months ago I began to work on a new novel, Arthur W Barnes, a work of fiction and an exploration of temptation. That can wait. Right now I need to focus on the fallout from social distancing, or rather the unexpected blessings that can bring us together as airlines shut their engines, shops and services lock their doors, and we wait at home for COVID-19 to abate. Imagine that you are a main character in this story. Maybe you have a lot, maybe you have nothing and rely on the generosity of strangers. We have a chance to dictate the plot, the outcomes, the ravages or the reaping.
The world seems smaller, with one global family. How precarious, fleeting and precious our lives. My friend Janet posted this comment on social media, a platform that was vilified just two months ago for a host of reasons including fake news, addiction, envy, excessive marketing, increased feelings of depression, and the list goes on. How ironic that we feel connected in a meaningful way as global quarantines are imposed. And landlines are suddenly back in fashion, especially for the elderly who never mastered cellphones and iPads. Hearing an actual voice has given context to words that are usually hastily typed in a text. Stephanie Rossy posted, I think there are a lot of silver linings to this whole pandemic. This is an unprecedented time and a time to reset. Let’s re-frame and take a step back and see how we can be more open-hearted & compassionate in our attempts to protect ourselves, our families & communities. Maybe it’s a message for us to slow down and cherish the time with family and friends. Let’s practice kindness and see how we can all do our part to help the more vulnerable in our society in this challenging time. We are all in this together.
David Grier posted, I read in a Forbes article yesterday that around 77000 lives have been saved due to improved air quality in China. The lockdown measures are not only flattening the curve but also purifying the air. People can breathe better.
Mother Earth has complained. Very few companies would have willingly embraced the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions. Startling Google images have begun to appear that show how the skies over Hubei Province have begun to clear because the factories are closed and air traffic has all but ceased. Dolphins are swimming in the clear waters of the canals in Venice, an event not seen in decades because cruise ships are no longer docking. It means that global cleansing will occur in a matter of months rather than decades. A silver lining if there ever was such a thing.
Vero posted that she is eating the food in her cupboards. And we all have enough clothing to take us into 2021. Perhaps we'll re-evaluate consumerism. Excessive purchasing means that our landfills are overflowing with last year's castoffs. Very few of us would have chosen this route. It means small businesses will close, and people will struggle to make ends meet. How will we rectify these hardships? Many of you have already given the answer. We know what we have to do.