The Coronavirus 2020 global quarantine experience has taught me…
how to see a smile in a masked person’s eyes,
there can be greener grasses and bluer skies,
more chipmunks run and play, and more birds chirp and fly,
and politicians have a new subject area, in which to express their lies,
and as powerful as mankind believes it is, and no matter how hard it tries, its natural intelligence succumbs to the vanity of its pride,
a simple little virus, possibly a sign from mother nature defies,
the human species’ belief of its superiority that may now cause it die.
It was like watching your favorite movie and the best part which you so dearly love is just about to happen and BOOM…the power goes out. You scream, get angry and then out of frustration, you find a flashlight and pick up an unread novel, you start to think… why do I watch that movie over and over when I could have been reading another new book?
Moments of discovery, through a year of enlightenment. The opportunity for us ALL to have time to reflect. To truly sit and think or stand together in just cause.
Why have I dedicated my life so dramatically to work? Why do I pursue a value of things and disregard moments of individual experiences of joy? How did this lifestyle become the norm, my norm…my passion, pull the “all-nighter”, early bird catches the worm….and why…and for who’s benefit? Questions upon questions, fear, stress and then ahhhh…relief.
Understanding, joy, compassion, knowledge, love and togetherness.
Had it not been for our forced respite would I have otherwise learned we live in a country where the police are a para-military force? Equipped and trained to treat citizens violently when they do not comply with the will of a distorted capitalistic government.
And when the government did seek to help many took advantage, then others complained that such compassion by a government for the people, by the people encouraged citizens not to pursue the stressful work life. Yet, those of us who needed the help learned to be thankful.
Revelation.
I talk to you on Zoom so you can see my room and the art I love, pictures of my family and my animatronic Yoda. Laughter together but so far apart. And there is still productivity.
Streaming and discovering the brilliance of creation and storytelling. Untold stories of fearless people. Creativity abounds.
Sadness though. Many that I have revered I was not able to pay my respects to their families as I have been accustomed. I hope they somehow feel my sympathy, hope they know how deeply their loved one was respected and will be missed.
What I learned. Hope is not faith, but a belief that life can be better. Hope is a new vision of what can, and very likely will be attainable. Hope is an understanding that change will lead us to evolve.
Science versus faith. Faith may win now because it does not require accountability. It does not require proof or reason. It allows us to falsely believe in another expression of mankind’s vanity of being all knowing. Yet it destines us to eventually lose.
There is so much courage in so many. If not in all of us. It should not only be recognized during times of difficulty, but every day.
Parents found a greater respect for teachers as they also learned the limitations of what is being taught. How can we consider ourselves educated when we do not teach ourselves that the greatest enemy to our existence is not the difference of opinion, ideology, religion but of a virus?
I learned that the void in my life cannot be filled with objects of desire, but that the desire to be a better me is rooted in seeking a life to make life a better more compassionate world.
Change is but an alteration of what exists, and with hope such alteration will improve the way we live. And sometimes, mother nature forces that change to be. This is how we evolve.
The idea of divided countries was easily erased as we discovered we can all equally suffer from the same catastrophe. And when brilliant minds gather a solution for all can be found regardless of race, faith, or national origin.
Yes “Love is Love” and sadly…”Hate is Hate”
Teach me your ways, not so I can find what divides us, but to understand what unites us.
What I learned…if we don’t welcome change, it will be brought upon us. And, if we hold steadfast to past ideals founded in ignorance, though the unfounded ideals may come to pass, the tendency to retain the ignorance can limit the impact of the necessity of change and prevent hope from allowing us to fully evolve.
Bottom line is…HOPE.
What I Learned During CoVid…..@WILDCoVid21
by Bernard H. Jackson