LOVE IN THE ERA OF COVID-19

I know you’ve felt it. I’ve felt it too. A kind of lingering restlessness that bubbles up when you’ve been inside the house too long. You feel fidgety and weird and your mind wanders all over the place, oscillating between important stuff like the future of humanity to how much sugar was in that breakfast bar you ate this morning.

You endlessly scroll social media. Partly because it feels like a connection to the outside world and partly because you have ample time to do such things. Yesterday you lost eight minutes of your life reading an article about how the Kardashians look different in quarantine without face fillers. Your moods rollercoaster and sometimes you feel grateful for the gift of time to chill and “pause” a bit. Other times you find your face covered in hot tears, feeling a palpable loneliness and desire to have your old life back after you hear a Lewis Capaldi ballad on the radio (or wait, is that just me?! lol).

For most people lockdown has been an emotional ride. Personally, I have felt all the feels. Up, down, left, right, you name it. I have also found myself thinking about stuff that hasn't crossed my mind in a long time, including insane flashbacks of the past. You know those old, buried memories that are seemingly insignificant but somehow make up the fabric of your life? They seem to be bubbling up for me, randomly and out of nowhere. Like the other day I remembered sitting on a hot, crowded train on my way back from the lake a few summers ago with a friend. We were on opposite seats and kept pulling funny faces at each other when we thought no-one was watching, while taking secret swigs out of beer bottles wrapped inconspicuously in towels. It was one of those oppressively hot days where the seat sticks to your legs and the air hangs heavy like a blanket. We didn't care though. We were young and drunk and I remember laughing so hard my stomach hurt. I also remember the shiny bald head of the man sitting diagonally across from me, watching it bob up and down as the train rattled on. He seemed to exaggerate his movements and took a tiny leap out of his seat every time we hit a bumpy spot and I remember being highly amused.

It's such a weird and random thing to remember and I have no idea why these kind of stories are flooding back to me. I wonder if it's because they are memories that represent things that are missing from my life right now. Things like having the freedom to choose how I spend my days, where I travel or the feeling of interacting with other humans. Or things like the simple joy of sharing a private joke in a public space with someone you love. I wonder if the heavy vibes of this lockdown period are getting to me, and my subconscious is yearning for something beyond the four walls of my home. For something deeper, something greater. For the delicate joy of human interaction. For a kind of love, really. A connection. To see myself in another.

THE IMPACT OF LOCKDOWN

No matter what your individual experience is, the truth is that COVID-19 has turned the world upside down. You know those snow-globes with the tiny white flakes that flutter all over the place when you shake it? It's kinda like that. The world as we know it has been shaken up and everything that was stable is now up in the air, moving around in a kind of trippy, unpredictable orbit. Things that we didn't question or feel much concern about now feel more questionable and concerning than ever. Things like the value of our personal health and healthcare system we rely on. Or whether our lives feel purposeful and our work satisfies or simply pays the bills. These issues have lay dormant in our psyche for a long time, and it now feels like they're being pushed upward, under a collective magnifying glass for deeper examination.

While these questions and memories rise to the surface, it's easy to slip in to a state of overwhelm. To feel disoriented, or maybe even disconnected. It's normal to crave normality, and the old routines and rhythms that used to make us feel comfortable.

BEYOND THE HEAVINESS

What I am starting to see is that beyond the heaviness and complexity of feelings coming up, is a glimmer of humanity that is holding us together in a time of crisis.

Specifically, I have come across a number of COVID-19 responses & initiatives that were created by humans, for humans. Little pieces of content designed to entertain, educate or simply make people laugh during dark times. Initiatives that invite us in to the centre of the human story, and make us feel part of a greater whole. Stuff created from the heart, with the intention of reaching other hearts.

This kind of unprompted, organic sharing indicates a profound depth to our collective spirit. To share the burden with others, bond through experience and sometimes laugh at the absurdity of the situation we find ourselves in. It is a form of love. It is a way of showing that we care.

For me, these pieces of content fill a hole that was torn open by the lockdown period. They resonate on a deep level and remind me of the ability we have as humans to adapt and look for ways to better our world, despite immense difficulties. In these responses is an invisible thread of humanity that draws us together, and in that togetherness we find what we have been missing. We find love, and we find ourselves.

Below are my “love links”, that were selected to incite the joy and love I have felt watching the collective human response to COVID-19...

“LOVE LINK” #1: THE PHOTO

I see so much beauty in this photo. I see our natural human connection and innate resilience. I see friendship and I see love. This is one photo of many that have been taken of people in lockdown across the world smiling, singing, playing music, dancing, exercising and connecting with neighbours. These photographs commemorate an unbelievable moment in human history, and highlight how connected we are and how (even though it doesn't feel like it sometimes) we deeply care about each other. We want the best for our neighbours, and fellow humans. We want to ease suffering and enhance joy. It is in our nature and photographs like this represent that. Photos like this have lifted my heart on cloudy days when I feel lonely or sad or worried about the state of the world. Photos like this are a timely reminder of the beauty and strength of the human spirit.

You can see more inspiring pics on The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/mar/19/balconies-sites-hope-coronavirus-in-pictures

“LOVE LINK” #2: THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT

This account was created well before COVID-19 but has amplified it’s content lately because in times like this we need a hit of the good stuff! It shines a light on positive news stories & happenings from around the world, and is basically a steady stream of heart-warming "good news". I think more than ever people are becoming conscious of the negative spin of mainstream media and impact it has on our psyche and wellbeing. Like the “glass half empty or full” question, there are two narratives we can choose from and following @tanksgoodnews is a conscious choice for me to stay grounded in a more positive outlook.

Whenever I see an update from these guys, I feel my heart getting a little warmer. I feel a smile rising inside because I am reminded of the true nature of humanity and our inherent goodness.

LOVE LINK #3: THE VIDEO

Speaking of goodness and love, this is a student made video by the Boston Conservatory. A Berklee student Shelbie Rassler convened a virtual orchestra of 74 of her peers to create connection in a time of social distancing. Students joined in the virtual music-making from their homes and delivered a beautiful rendition of the song “What the world needs now”. This song feels even more relevant considering what we are going right now. I watched it and felt genuine tears spring in the back of my eyes. What is it about music that gets right to our heart sometimes? It has this subtle yet immense power that can bring us to our knees. This video combines the gentle, uplifting energy of a classic song with the smiling faces of 74 humans who are in the same boat as I am, who are struggling but want to come together and join forces in the name of love! It is a beautiful reminder that we all need a little love sometimes.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

The bottom line is that even in the darkest of days when it feels like the world is ending, the resilience of the human spirit is what pulls us through. You might feel like you're going nuts locked in your home but next time you open your social media feed take note of the messages of hope, compassion and goodwill that are there. These are the messages that remind us that we are inherently connected to our fellow humans, and that the presence of love exists, always, underneath it all.