Learning from the Streets

Yesterday I was in the physically distanced queue outside one of the local supermarkets, and I heard the person behind me talking saying ; ‘Its the first time I’ve been out in 6 weeks, ive been to my local shop, but I thought I needed to get out down town, and I figured if I get the virus ill get it now’  Its as if 6 weeks hard work has been obliterated by the stirring up of a narrative of ending the lockdown. But, I get it, I really do. Ive not seen anyone I know since 25th March. Boredom, though is better than death to yourself, or others.

but its also desperate actually.

Its desperate also that it shows that people have given up, on themselves, and also the people they care about.

Love (your neighbours,  your NHS….. as yourself)

Love, makes it not about you; not entirely…

Its not about you is it?  Seriously, it really isnt.

Maybe Thatcher was right to say this, saying :

They are casting their problems at society. And, you know, there’s no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look after themselves first. It is our duty to look after ourselves and then, also, to look after our neighbours.” – in an interview in Women’s Own in 1987

Its as if a narcissist entitled cabinet executive (it isnt a functioning government) , guided by a strategic unprincipled media are stoking up the individuals in all of us. Even todays strap-line from BJ is not about protecting the NHS, but Controlling a virus. It’s depersonalised even the NHS from the equation. At least before there was a cause to consider in taking actions, protect the NHS. An appeal to greater good, just.

‘When greedy consumption is the order of the day, dehumanisation becomes acceptable’ (bell hooks 2001)

But what about love in and amidst this?  

Where has been an appeal to a greater good?

What about not just protect the NHS, but protect each other? protect the vulnerable?

Now we’re not even going to protect the NHS, and that means any June Annual leave scrapped for the staff when a second wave hits. And with a vague slogan that will be all your fault. Just watch for it.

What instead about love?

Has there been a leader in this crisis talk about love?  The archbishop? Boris?

Remember the first few weeks, talk was of responding well, loving neighbours, creative energy in the boredom, getting on with it; that looked a bit like love.

It was about protect yourselves, care for yourselves – and even I went along with it – but protect yourselves….could also have included…..so that others aren’t affected, so that you dont pass it on. 

It could have been about a call to selfless love. To do love. To forego the petty arguments and get on with being love.

Love your neighbour as yourself,

so that means care for the other. 

Now in a scramble for the next available open garden centre or cafe, all talk of society, community and coronovirus community spirit becomes a distant memory. Well done for being gaslit UK.  

The forces of previous normal have seeped back in. The dominant narrative not written by those who promote love, care, health and well being. Remember that. An unhappy nation buys more. GDP goes up when everyone is miserable.  Dont you dare be happy and content in yourself when there’s stuff to buy (Rutger Bregman, Utopia for realists, 2016) .  Forget your love of the outdoors, go get stuff.

Reflect on : What made you feel good, (good as in your heart feeling good) in the last 6 weeks?  

Was it that you felt closely connected – even if physically distant from people?

was it the free walk?

Was it the neighbour who smiled?

Was it the kindness some one else showed you?

was it the bags of food from the local church priest who gathered bags to give away?

Was it the phone calls received, or given?

Was it the claps for the NHS?

Was it someone who showed something that looked like love towards you, or when you showed it back?

When its said that ‘living simply means that we have a greater capacity to love’ is this right? Have you noticed love more, just like you noticed the birds singing or butterflies?

Has love emerged..?  Make that love last.

‘Give pleasure, Never miss an opportunity to give pleasure, because you will be the first to benefit from that – even if no one now what you are doing’ (Coelho)

Love your neighbour….

Love your NHS: 

means continuing to fight for it, ignore its naysayers, demand its funding from core taxes not charities, and… give those who are NHS a voice in discussions about the health of the nation. Dont keep them voiceless. Dont give up on it after clapping every week for 6 weeks, and allowed the tabloids to promote government policy on privatising it.

Wait for them to give the all clear. Wait till there’s capacity for hip operations not just covid recovery.

Oh by the way, they have been relieved to not have to deal with drunken weekends. Probably given them a break.

Love your NHS, dont submit to weekend economy and cause a £6billion cost for it on Friday and Saturday nights again.

Love yourself. 

I mean this too. Love yourself, means not giving in to standing into the queue at the supermarket just passive waiting to get a virus. Love yourself means writing down the actual skills, actual goodness from this time, actually reflecting on love during a virus. Loving yourself means doing the actual reflecting, the stopping during this unprecedented time, and wondering about you, your life, your life thus far, and actively choosing what you are going to be, what kind of human you are going to be beyond all of this. Discover love. The real love. If you discovered it during the virus, then follow its path even more, let generosity and kindness affect your being.

‘There is no happiness in having and getting, only in giving’ (Paulo Coelho)

the hurt and pain and grief are there. It’s ok. Love hurts too.

Love yourself to not give up on you. Love yourself in the midst.

Love your neighbour,

Love the NHS

Love yourself.

Love wins.

Im pretty sure the death toll would be far less in a society that was like this. Dont you think? Call me a dreamer, or a liberal, But Jesus on love got it spot on. And yeah I know he wasn’t talking about the NHS.

‘Love is an action, it is a participatory emotion. We learn compassion by willing to hear the pain as well as joy of those we love. The path to love is not arduous or hidden, but we must choose to make the first step’ (hooks) 

 

Bell hooks, All about love ; New visions, 2001

Paulo Coelho, The Supreme gift, 2013