Have you noticed that everyone is on edge? Regardless of where you are or who you are with, everyone has an opinion about everything, and no one is listening to what anyone else has to say. One of the most noticeable fallouts of the pandemic is that people have become rude and condescending to even family members in times when there should be unconditional love and forgiveness. I don’t know about you but I’m over it. Taking your stress out on the rest of humanity for the downside of your situation or because you’re missing out is not cool, it is not the answer and it will not make the pandemic go away. Yes, there are people who are doing great deeds for the rest of humanity and who are trying to smile behind their masks, but it is the negativity that shuts out the light from the good.
I’ve heard analysts say we are in a time of grieving and not just over the immense loss of life. People are grieving because lives have been lives turned upside down from jobs to finances to just being stuck looking at the same four walls for months on end. It is August and the country has been in pandemic mode since March. Recently I saw a Facebook post that suggested we should all put up our Christmas trees, throw a New Year’s party and maybe 2020 will go away. Well you can indeed put up your Christmas tree, but 2020 is not going to end any sooner. Planned business events have been cancelled, summer vacation plans have been put on hold for most of us and those who are traveling are doing so with masks and more caution than usual, social distancing and coming up short on places to dine and sites to visit.
The Longevity Project of Next Avenue had a Zoom conference on ageism – the newest ism. Covid-19 began with a major focus on the “at-risk” group of people over 65 (which by the way is now 50 in some areas). As the months have gone on, however, it is the younger generation’s need to party, socialize and congregate that has become the age focus. The Longevity Project conference had over 300 participants and the discussions focused on how aging has been viewed during the pandemic. There were the usual gripes that older people in America are generally shunned after a certain age as being useless, discounted, or disposable and just plain stupid. It is as though our brains fell out and any experience we’ve accumulated is discounted. However, more people participating in the conference suggested “that we can borrow some of the wonderful action and work being done by young people to try to bridge other divides and tackle social inequities and try to apply it to our “aging” negative age bias.” Indeed, I have been fortunate to work with a creative, innovative and smart group of young people during the pandemic to market and promote my book, One Caregiver’s Journey. They, in turn, have listened to my suggestions and questions. We have all been affected by the pandemic – most of them now work remotely and I, too, am stuck at home. Older people don’t always have opportunities that younger people have to continue moving forward in a workforce. But each age group can learn from the other if we would just relax.
The recent social unrest has brought light to inequality in schools, employment, salaries, health care and the list goes on and on and it isn’t only people of color who are highlighted it is young, old and women of all colors and ages. In the past few months lots of people have grown a huge chip on their shoulder over one facet or another of inequality. Here’s my take: if you treat others with the dignity and respect you want to receive the world just might become a better place for all of us. Young people have got to learn to exist in a world where not everyone agrees with their stance on a topic and the right way to do something isn’t always found on the internet. The news reports more and more that when people disagree with one another it is a license to pull out a revolver and shoot the other person. Read the stories of how many people are getting into altercations, causing property damage, or harm to others because they refuse to wear a mask. The age of social media has allowed us to hide behind hurtful words and posts and for intruders or “bad actors” to meddle and turn truth into conspiracy theories that cause more unrest. Is it any wonder we are in a state of unrest and that everyone is on edge.
The current mental climate of hot and cold temperament is going to take all of us working together to return to anything that vaguely resembles a normal existence. This isn’t about our constitutional rights being violated it is about preserving life, your own included. So, take a deep breath and a few steps backward and look at the bigger picture of what is going on in our world. Go with the flow, stay out of bars, off beaches, hiking trails and out of crowds. Don’t sing in church, if you’re brave enough to venture into church. We can beat the pandemic and we can return to life and in the process maybe, just maybe, we can learn to appreciate the differences of our fellow citizens.
Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels
Hi Eleanor,
I’m responding to your “Time to Get a Grip”.
America began as with a Constitution of freedom that did not need police departments in every town or city. John Adams, the 2nd US President, said the Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.
For nearly 50 years since Roe v Wade made abortions legal, America has murdered the unborn and been going the wrong direction morally. Solomon said, “Righteousness exalts a nation” but the opposite is also true and America is going down, but the choice is up to us whether we go down with it. If we choose the high road morally, we will be blessed by God in spite of difficulties that come—and they are just beginning to come.
When Christ was asked about the end of the world, He said to read the book of Daniel (Matt 24) and in the 1st chapter we see that Daniel wisely opted out of government healthcare. As an MD who taught Health Science, I can tell you medical care is not healthcare as shown by this website http://LeadingCauseOfDeathPrescriptionDrugs.com If I could attach it, I would gift you a book that has 5-star reviews on Amazon—if you email me, I’ll do so.
I am pro-choice, pro child. I believe a woman should have the right to make decisions over her own body and that old white men have made them for too long. I worked for a government entity that reviewed requests to terminate pregnancies for Medicaid recipients. When you review requests for 10, 11 or 12 year old girls who are the victims of incest and rape your views change. These children cannot carry a fetus to term and I never met a father who would trade his daughter’s life for his religion. In my view people need to relax and God will show us what he wants us to do and be, Book of Daniel aside.
I am pro-child, pro-choice. I feel that it is women’s right to make choices related to her health and body. For far too long old white men have had that duty and it must stop. I worked in a Medicaid unit where requests to terminate pregnancies were determined. When you read a 10, 11, or 12 year girl has been the victim of incest or rape your views change. they are physically incapable of carrying a fetus to term. I never met a father who would trade his daughter’s life for his church. There has to be exceptions, our thinking is too stringent one way or another. It is immoral not to do so. Indeed it is time to get a grip and for everyone to relax.
My book, A Law from Eden, Solving the Mystery of Original Sin received a 5 star review from the San Francisco Book Review.
It is not possible to solve a problem until the root of the problem is made known. The root of our many social ills can be found in the story of Adam and Eve. When the sin that began in Eden is removed from human kind we will experience heaven on earth. But first God tells us He will end the age with no belief in God. Then he will have mercy on all.
Yes, the recent social unrest has escalated and covers the earth, but it will come to an end when humans return to the ways of God. Please visit my website for an explanation of the sin in Eden and how God will put an end to that sin.
So Sorry. I forgot to give you the website for my book, A Law from Eden. If we want a better environment for our children and grandchildren we must be willing to hear new truth. Violence will only end when the root of the violence is removed.
Please visit my website at http://www.alawfromeden.com. for more information on how we can remove the violence and immorality covering our earth today.
thank you.