The last ~18 months (dating back to March 2020) have been difficult times for pretty much everyone, with so many changes and challenges affecting our daily lives, not to mention the pace at which these are being reported to us via social and traditional media.
It feels to me like a large wedge has been drawn between many people – often polarizing people along political party lines – with many politicians and media outlets choosing to stoke the fires that separate us as opposed to working to bring those with differing views together.
Despite the numerous negative impacts of Covid I believe there have fortunately also been some positives mixed in if we look close enough.
One of the good things about this period is that many have been reassessing their lives – including deciding what really matters most.
Many are re-examining their priorities: the importance of family and friends, the time spent commuting to the workplace and whether they can/should work from home or return to the office if that is an option for them (and their employers).
Students, parents and administrators have been weighing educational choices – should they send their children back to the classroom or perhaps homeschool them or continue with virtual or hybrid models.
Institutions and government officials have also had hard decisions to make re/vaccinations, masking and other related requirements and choices.
Some of these have been impacted by mandates made by federal, state and local government authorities but political partisanship it seems has also too often played a role in many of these decisions.
On a more personal level, I have found the need to get out of my NYC apartment to walk more and appreciate natural beauty as well as the arts and culture.
During the height of the George Floyd protests here in Manhattan some of the otherwise peaceful protesting unfortunately turned toxic and in some cases, violent.
So much so that I decided that I needed to take a break from the city – for my safety and sanity – visiting my parents on Long Island for what turned out to be a wonderful and battery-recharging week away.
When I returned, a few weeks later I was walking through the Soho section and encountered some wonderful street art (much of it on wood panels placed over doors and windows that were erected to protect against violent looting) and did my best to capture what I saw on my iPhone.
I’m please to share this with my friends and fellow Flobel community members via a YouTube link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSP4MKkpIc8
I hope you enjoy and please share with others that you think would also appreciate this brief Black Lives Matter #BLM video tribute.
It seems so long ago since so much has happened since June 2020.
by Rob Rinderman