Ryan, this was so sobering and what I think is the most important issue of our time. You describe it so well: capturing that moment when once in a while, there is the beauty of the "spell" breaking and there is connection between us and, as you correctly say, we both end up leaving "lighter". It IS as if Covid allowed us to to act as though we will avoid each other, indefinitely. It is so very sad. It is what I write about every day, because like you, I am astonished and ask myself the question you pose: "When did being together begin to feel so unnatural?"
I moved house recently to a bigger place with a high wall in front on my house. I thought, great, privacy, I can do yoga out the front and sit in my Pj's drinking coffee. Then I started to miss the comings and goings of living on a terraced street. I soon began to feel the aches, and esp being home recovering from surgery and not being able to drive for weeks. I asked my doc for antidepressants, she said to treat the isolation first. I've let out two rooms to students now and have been sleeping better just knowing there's people in the house and the chats about their days. I bought a season ticket to my nearby cinema and have adopted going for a walk every evening after dinner. Meeting people I didn't even know were my neighbours. I also joined a choir, singing with 130 people really lifts your spirits. At this moment, I'm happy sitting looking out the window, but will soon leave the house to go be in the world. We can make small changes, like you say, smile and say hello. 👋
A deeply resonant and poignant essay. Thank you, Ryan. We really can’t find digital solace in a void of human connection. Over that past few years the jewel of sangha has become extremely important me. Spiritual friends have given me something I had never realised I was missing. This has certainly spilled over into the way I try to ‘be with’ others more generally in life.
Ryan, this was so sobering and what I think is the most important issue of our time. You describe it so well: capturing that moment when once in a while, there is the beauty of the "spell" breaking and there is connection between us and, as you correctly say, we both end up leaving "lighter". It IS as if Covid allowed us to to act as though we will avoid each other, indefinitely. It is so very sad. It is what I write about every day, because like you, I am astonished and ask myself the question you pose: "When did being together begin to feel so unnatural?"
When people say “it’s the journey, not the destination,” I think this explains it greatly.
Enjoy the journey.
Thanks Ryan.
Thank you, Ryan, for writing this.
I moved house recently to a bigger place with a high wall in front on my house. I thought, great, privacy, I can do yoga out the front and sit in my Pj's drinking coffee. Then I started to miss the comings and goings of living on a terraced street. I soon began to feel the aches, and esp being home recovering from surgery and not being able to drive for weeks. I asked my doc for antidepressants, she said to treat the isolation first. I've let out two rooms to students now and have been sleeping better just knowing there's people in the house and the chats about their days. I bought a season ticket to my nearby cinema and have adopted going for a walk every evening after dinner. Meeting people I didn't even know were my neighbours. I also joined a choir, singing with 130 people really lifts your spirits. At this moment, I'm happy sitting looking out the window, but will soon leave the house to go be in the world. We can make small changes, like you say, smile and say hello. 👋
A deeply resonant and poignant essay. Thank you, Ryan. We really can’t find digital solace in a void of human connection. Over that past few years the jewel of sangha has become extremely important me. Spiritual friends have given me something I had never realised I was missing. This has certainly spilled over into the way I try to ‘be with’ others more generally in life.