Day 3: Writing Challenge

Today I noticed people trying to cope with “normal.” People so desperately trying to go back to the way things were a few months ago. I can’t honestly blame them. There are countless days that I dream of being amongst swaths of people. Close to those I love, embracing my friends, my family. I wish I could do that without risk, but who knows what that looks like? What is the timeline? When will this all be over?

Moments like these remind me that humans, no matter how old are like children. I don’t mean that in a condescending way. Humans at their core want to be loved, cared for, and touched. We want to be told that everything will be okay, assured of security, certain of tomorrow’s joy, today. We all have heard the cliche, “we need one another more than ever,” and though that statement is drab and a little (as the kids say) basic, I can’t help but think of the truth behind it.

Humans are communal, we all hold our tribes. Whether for good or for evil, we are not able to sustain life without one another. We are in dire need of community. This is all to say, seeing people grasping at straws in order to feel normal is a heartwrenching performance. What could be laced with privilege is a show that is trying to share disparity, a disruption in day to day life. We have shared trauma. People are trying to cope with familiarity and others cringe at the thought, coil back in fear and frustration.

And honestly, I can’t blame them either. I can’t blame anyone. As angry as I get… Humanity is losing its identity and I want to be there for the rebuilding of it.