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Date
TENSION
The tension between reaction and no reaction. Between complacency and anxiety. Between compliance and non-compliance.
The subtle CRITICISM of my actions, seen as an over-reaction. Reflecting my need to PREPARE and PROTECT, to gather essentials. And yes, to procure enough toilet paper (or at least have last year’s Yellow Pages at the ready just in case we had to “make do”).
An unwanted, selfish perception of SELF-SACRIFICE while others were flaunting the rules. A hint of ANNOYANCE at being law abiders, risk averse and doing “the right thing”.
UNTIL... the stories of OTHERS also in lockdown, also FEARFUL, at more risk, with no jobs, no income, no space, no “others” to support or be loved by or for them to love. Illness. Death. The deep SADNESS.
And the REALISATION that the right thing was to do the RIGHT thing. For us. For everybody.
And then... the CALM. The PEACE. The quiet ACCEPTANCE. No “fear of missing out”. No pressure. No deadlines.
An AWARENESS of sunrises and sunsets, of colours, of birdsong, of books and music. With no time limit. No call of “elsewhere” and no expectations by others.
For the first time an empty calendar and, surprisingly, the STILLNESS that has brought. And the opportunity to just “BE”.
And a profound GRATITUDE for where we live and for those who have LED and for those who have CARED for us.
The tension between reaction and no reaction. Between complacency and anxiety. Between compliance and non-compliance.
The subtle CRITICISM of my actions, seen as an over-reaction. Reflecting my need to PREPARE and PROTECT, to gather essentials. And yes, to procure enough toilet paper (or at least have last year’s Yellow Pages at the ready just in case we had to “make do”).
An unwanted, selfish perception of SELF-SACRIFICE while others were flaunting the rules. A hint of ANNOYANCE at being law abiders, risk averse and doing “the right thing”.
UNTIL... the stories of OTHERS also in lockdown, also FEARFUL, at more risk, with no jobs, no income, no space, no “others” to support or be loved by or for them to love. Illness. Death. The deep SADNESS.
And the REALISATION that the right thing was to do the RIGHT thing. For us. For everybody.
And then... the CALM. The PEACE. The quiet ACCEPTANCE. No “fear of missing out”. No pressure. No deadlines.
An AWARENESS of sunrises and sunsets, of colours, of birdsong, of books and music. With no time limit. No call of “elsewhere” and no expectations by others.
For the first time an empty calendar and, surprisingly, the STILLNESS that has brought. And the opportunity to just “BE”.
And a profound GRATITUDE for where we live and for those who have LED and for those who have CARED for us.