Earth Day

Two words I hope to never have to hear or utter again in my life: social distancing.  I thought there were other two word phrases that have come into vogue in the past couple of years would tip me over the edge, but these two words are now at the top of that list.

Everyone is tired of it.  Everyone is either struggling, coping, helping, or hoping. As we sit home isolated and made to feel afraid of each other, some people, the ones who don't have to be out there as essential to our surviving this, are embracing the slowdown. Some people especially after the initial shock of it are getting things done at home, stripping wallpaper, washing windows, sewing masks, cleaning up yards, finding the back ends of closets, doing house repairs,  learning something new because there isn't anything you can't learn on YouTube.

Have you noticed the smog and pollution has lifted and the animals are coming out?  People aren't in the way and the earth heals. A profound thought for Earth Day.

Last week there were some people I know who were dropping out of Facebook.  I recently read an article about people coming back to Facebook after leaving it in the past because they are so completely bored.  When I go looking for photos of the children of nieces, nephews and grands I notice on my sidebar that every single name is lit up.  It seems like everyone is back and always on.

 I was very happy to hear that a couple of people, family members and a friend  have given up on Facebook, were distancing themselves from it.  Too much negativity, too much anger, too much ranting and way, way too much politics and virus talk.  One niece said she is tired of all of that but it was especially jarring to her to hear the talk of people she considered friends who, at the top of their red faced voice, spout condoning the current administration in Washington.  She was really jarred, trying to figure out how and if she is to relate to these people she considered her friends in the future.  

We all want to be heard and we all want to be safe and we all want to be healthy and in order to do that we all have to cooperate.

The one thing that brings me complete and total comfort in this time is knowing the entire planet Earth is in the same situation, confined, separated, restricted, paused, finding other ways and dealing with it. This Earth Day, we can't plant a tree or flowers and think we've done our duty for the health of the planet (because the garden centers are closed.) We can, though, give thought to every single person on this Earth and do what we can for their health because ultimately, their health is our health.

When the entire planet is on the same page it ISN'T all about you.  There is no more you.