History has so much to teach Necessity of human connection
What strikes me about 2020 is our inability to learn fromthe past. Read Yuval NoahHarari’s “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” and learn about us as a species, read Bill Bryson’s book on “The Body” and learn about ourselves, but most important, read about the 1918 flu pandemic or, further back, about the “Black Death,” and understand whatwe are going through. We have that learning base; we just do not take advantage of it. Why?
Read Michael Burlingame’s book “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” and understand real, sincere leadership. The ability to be with the electorate and lead through extremely difficult times. Wewon’t do that, though. Why?
Before social media, upheavalswere caused by the invention of the printing press. You cannot manage a uncensored flowof opinions or rumors; only truth and transparency can do that. Arewe up to the task?
What has kept me sane is a combination of three things. First, seeing the everyday operations inmy neighborhood of RavenswoodManor: folkswalking with their children or dogs, ourwonderful postal carrier Jerome, all the delivery pros, the landscapers, the folks providingwork and services at our homes, the drugstore folks, the grocery store folks, the folks at our local restaurants and our city service pros, streets, trees, fire and police. That sameness groundedme.
Second ismywork and activities: biking, walking, reading, cooking, talking to friends here and overseas, and no electronic news, just newspapers and magazines. OnlyTV is shows like “TheMentalist,” “The Queen’s Gambit” and “The Crown.”
But most important have beenmywonderful relationship withmy wife, conversations withmy daughters andmy love ofmy grandkids. Their joy keeps me sane.
So I will continue to read and learn; I will stay busy (such as making food for neighbors once aweek); wish for collective, bold and meaningful leadership; and rely onmy wife, daughters, and Zack, Alex andNick (with another on theway) to keep me sane.
— Bill Termini, Chicago
In 2020, I realized howimportant human interaction is. I live alone, and when the pandemic started, I mostly stayed home. InMay, a friend who owns a bakery needed help, so I startedworking there one or two days perweek. I immediately realized howmuch I missed talking, laughing and sharing a kindword with other people. Sometimes the days are long, but I still enjoyworking there.
In 2021, I look forward to a return to normalcy and a less angry, divided country. I hope people will begin to treat each other with respect again and not let political differences get in theway.