[The Irony of Social Distancing...]

[The Irony of Social Distancing...]

Stephen K., of Portland, Maine

April 9, 2020

2020-04-09

COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-

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English

The irony of social distancing and enforced solitude is how much it has reinforced the truth of our deep connection to each other and to the natural world.  In this country we pride ourselves on our individualism, and on the material benefits of competition, which to a great extent depend on extractions from nature.  For the last several weeks, in contrast, we have engaged in loving interactions with our grandchildren and dear friends, remotely but meaningfully.  And we have taken long walks in natural settings where it almost seems as if plants now have the benefit of more fresh air and animals have been liberated from their previous sequestration.

Personal narratives