6 Comments

And when the world does open again, you and your words will still be here to remind us to appreciate it. 🧡💜

Expand full comment

Oh, I absolutely think the biggest seed of appreciation has been planted in all of us. The simple things like sitting next to a stranger at a movie theatre, or seeing more to a smile than crinkled eyes, or being able to hug someone you never have before. I cannot wait for all of these things, & I'll run towards them at full speed and with open arms!

Expand full comment

Of course we will survive! Human beings and all species survive. An awful lot of people are, unfortunately, not very good at survival. So many people flaunt the simple rules and do little other than complaining most of the time.

The pandemic is, of course, a huge test with many victims, plagued with suffering, deaths, bankruptcies, unemployment, homelessness, hunger, and abuse. But we are more resilient than we often believe.. And, if we are writing and reading these pages, we are still alive and manage more or less. We already have a track record of being survivors. If we could all work together on fighting back we could be much further than we are.

During our lives, we’ve surely experienced lots of serious setbacks. I’m 76.5 years old (yes, when you are that old, even the .5 makes a difference). Seriously, in my lifetime I’ve survived living in an abusive broken home, with vindictive parents, becoming significantly hearing impaired, coming to an unknown country without being able to speak the language, losing my farm during a 5-year drought, lots of miscarriages, losing my dear wife who died only 55 ysold, having a stroke — you name it! My misfortunes are not extraordinary. All people can tell similar stories. And we survive because we have to. Despite all, I continue to rejoice that I’m alive. Every new day is a precious gift, pandemic or not. We will survive indeed, no matter what — if we have the will! Here are some Tanka verses that catch what I feel:

———

the world’s a bad mess

should we just capitulate?

the answer is NO!

we must persist to survive

with much imagination

———

imagination

heals and rebuilds our sphere

we build up courage

and create a wholesome world

and rebuilt our spirit

———

so, we must nourish

nature, each other, and the Arts —

nurture sanity

celebrate in our life

what’s beautiful and lasting

———

Expand full comment

I so needed to hear this today. Thank you!

Expand full comment

I was at the end of my rope late last fall, but thankfully, glimmers of hope shone through. I like your analogy of the ceiling with cracks of light showing through....perfect. We know it's going to be better.

Expand full comment

This singer is new to me. This song couldn't be further from the truth. Aside from that..., her voice resonates so well I went out to find more.

Expand full comment