Member-only story
Humanity may be absent, but don’t let compassion be
We’ve read it and heard it over and over again. These are unprecedented times.
A period that will pass without any serious health problems for most of us. But during which we all have a family member or friend who’ll need to be taken extra care of.
Social distancing is something we must now all do to save lives.
I’m going to use the downtime to learn new things. Read more. Catch up on all those things I wanted to watch or listen to. Dust off board games — or open them for the first time. Have those video chats I’ve been meaning to for far too long.
And plan for the future. The things I want to experience, accomplish, feel.
It’ll also be an opportunity to reflect. What changes do I want to make? Or to fondly remember.
Such as that time I set out early to climb above the clouds in the highlands of central Java. The sun rising beside a chain of volcanoes stretching before me. Nothing but a gentle breeze and the sound of birdsong. The dawning of a new day.
How often do we just stop and listen? With all the clutter, distraction and noise in our everyday lives?
When it’s removed, even the sound of birds returns to Wuhan, China, too. No longer drowned out by a cacophony of noise from…
