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Sunset over Manchester in May 2020

Solstice Dreams

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Happy Summer Solstice!!!  My dream for you today is that you have love in your heart and joy in your step. 

Word of the Day:  Oxymoron

TFAM:  There is always time - we just fill it with inconsequential things.

As we approach the 'exit of Corona Virus' or whatever they wish to call it.  I wonder how many people are affected by the sight of crowds, feel anxious about going out and struggle to engage in conversation face to face.  These are all symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder and I see signs of this anxiety on the faces of the old and young alike as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives. 

It is not just a fear of catching the virus, it is the feeling of being overwhelmed by the sight of so many people, by the noise, by the rush and push of crowds.  It is a common feeling amongst ex-prisoners and ex-army staff.  It is the need to slowly be reintegrated back into society.  But our society was broken.  So how do you reintegrate into a society that is broken.  Oh yeah, people are dashing to the beach because it is hot; but the singletons, the ones who had to live in their boxes over boxes and only had their phone, Netflix or other social media to help them keep in contact with the wider world. 

Elderly people who rely on the delivery man, the cashier, the fellow bus passenger for human contact lost all connections, except with the NHS sending a txt reminding them of the dangers, to stay inside, to remain safe, to not overwhelm the NHS. 

How many people out there knocked on their neighbours door and asked if they were alright. Because they were alright, with their children and their husband/wife but are so used to their own life they have never bothered to meet their neighbours before the lockdown, never thought to consider the person who lived across the road, or next door. 

Why am I pondering on this?  Because yesterday I stood and had a chat with an older woman and we laughed and joked, about her standing behind driveway gates and me walking past doing my shopping.  I stopped because she waved and said hello, I stopped because she was behind gates and I didn't know if her children bothered to visit her.  I stopped because for a moment I realised I am the lucky one - I am alive, I am walking around and I am doing my shopping.  Like normal.  Like always. 

But how many are not.  How many are huddled in their home still afraid to come out. 

Go on, I dare you, knock on your neighbours door.  I dare you to say hello and ask - Are you alright?

and mean it

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