Solace in Domesticity

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Avery

“And the people stayed home ... Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed ... And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.” 

So suddenly, the faraway epidemics in la terra d’italia and China became starkly frightening realities for us Americans, for us meme-obsessed, college-decision-consumed, and music-loving high schoolers. So suddenly, everything we’ve worked for seems to be so trivial in the face of this even more potent force known as the virus. So suddenly, the next six months of the year will contain only one month of school, an unfathomable thought merely ten days ago. 

But despite the heartache thousands of families are grappling with across the globe, the numerous careless men and women partying in Miami, and the unsettling lack of answers for every person on the planet, it seems that this pandemic has warranted a new community — a community of hopeful, cautious, and meditative individuals. 

What has diminished in terms of school, jobs, and social gatherings has magnified in terms of creative endeavours, emphasis on personal well-being, compassion for others, and, ultimately, healing. For the one who didn’t get enough sleep due to overbearing commitments and schedules, for the one who dealt with friend drama at school, for the one who placed all their care on appearance, or for the one who just missed doing what they love, this is a time for healing. 

The prospect of severed social ties for an indeterminate amount of time might just be what everyone needed. Already, pollution has decreased immensely and canals in Venice are teeming with life. People have fervently pushed for “elderly hours” at grocery stores. Individuals, like myself, have reconnected with old hobbies and are finding solace in the quiet stillness of domesticity. While the situation may get worse before it gets better, it goes without saying that tragedy unequivocally leads to healing, growth, prosperity.

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 19, 2020 at 10:01 PM

    This is absolutely stunning ave!! Beautiful writing!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. RubyMarch 19, 2020 at 10:23 PM

    So honestly & perfectly expressed. Thank you for sharing, Avery!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 19, 2020 at 11:17 PM

    Beautifully written. Shows your maturity and growth. So poignant...looking forward to reading more!

    ReplyDelete

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