As people, most of us pride ourselves on being social beings and the subsequent interaction that comes from that. Our normal is often undermined by our naivety, forgetting that even rocks erode and that the concept of “perpetual” is more often an idealist construction than a reality. As we proceed through the world in the midst of a storm of change, our choices influence our outcome in what we perceive to be positive or negative results. By default, as a consequence of our place in the animal kingdom, our collective species are supposedly responsible for the trajectory of our lives and our self proclaimed earthly domain. Or are we?
As you may know, my lifestyle of late has been somewhat self-deprecating as my treatment journey moves me further and further away from my idealist self. A large part of that has involved adapting to isolation as both a functional and mental barrier for my recovery. For those of you that know, our hands have long been dry from the sanitizer, ears sore from the face mask and weary of restaurant food in violation of food handling guidelines. We change our clothes often and have heightened crowd awareness, conditioned to avoid the herd and fight our human instinct to socialize ^. Medicines recluse.
This feeling was largely restricted to the Cancer Club, a reality that manifested in the shadows where I shamefully thought I belonged, a social leaper amongst societies elite- the concert goers and crowd herders. However, rocks do erode.
COVID19 has moved the taboo topic of mortality out of the shadows. Heavily invested in our bulletproof misperception, it has awakened a mentally dormant reality- mans’ fragility. The fact that no-one is immune casts an inclusive global net testing our endurance in the absence of a cure. A virus that is proving to be a fearsome opponent, igniting a rampant fire that thirsts for a suitable host to overcome. In the absence of a medicinal solution, we are forced to implement control measures to limit the spread and so……..we quarantine.
Where once it was busy, is currently slow- where there once was a gathering, is empty and alone. Where we may have had pleasure, is now replaced by fear, the monster advances, its’ motive unclear. And yet, there is light.
Though my new normal has maintained itself relatively unscathed, the truth is that my focus has continued to be on the positive. These changes have enabled me to spend precious time with my daughter that I am thankful for every second, minute and hour of my life. Our communities stand united and hopeful as they try and envision a world beyond this pandemic- a transformational journey that at its best rekindled a gratitude and awareness for our rich lives and at its worst, we mourn those that were lost, loved and fell victim to the possession of COVID19.
My hope is that you and your loved ones are safe…
My hope is that when the tide calms and the dust settles, we remember those that must remain isolated due to their misfortune, whatever it may be.
United, we’re strong but more importantly- we’re not alone.
The Hopeful Motif 