Negotiating Past-Present-Future OR Human Psychology, definitive X-factor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Around the world, we are having to deal with a hitherto unknown coronavirus. A reader has emailed to ask if I think our daily lives will ever be the same again. Well, what I think hardly matters, but in answer to the question, yes, I do, and that's not just wishful thinking.  Let's face it, we deal with unknowns all the time. Time itself has to be the greatest of all unknown factors, and we deal with it, for better or worse as the case may be. The pandemic is scary, not least because so many people are dying and families grieving. Time, too, is scary, leaves many of us ill and/or dying and families having to cope.

On the whole, we all all manage our time as best we can, and make a good job of doing so. Yes, we are inclined to take time for granted and take each day as it comes where the pandemic is a new phenomenon, and making new demands of us, especially in terms of social distancing and various new measures affecting hoe we work travel and approach everyday life with no small degree of caution. Time, too, though has always made demands on us, not least a degree of caution, self awareness and positive thinking to see us through from one day to the next. We cope, each in our own way; how successfully may well  be open to question, but the principles for survival are much the same now as they have always been.  different now.

I am reminded of that universal saying 'A little thought goes a long way' and that means though for others as well as for ourselves; among lessons for the learning, that has to count among the most important, especially now. 

Humankind has managed the Here-and-Now with varying degrees of success throughout its history, and emerged smiling and hopeful throughout its wars and subsequent peace so I guess I can only suggest we 'keep smiling through' just as the song made so special for so many by Dame Vera Lynn asks of us.

Wishing you all peace and love,

Hugs,

Roger

NEGOTIATING PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE or HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY, DEFINITIVE X-FACTOR

Yesterday,

much the same, fears,

since early hours,

dreading a new dawn

(yet again)

wishing the day gone before it puts me

out for garbage

Yesterday,

all but wishing myself dead

(but not quite)

desperate for reasons

to carry on,

finding none to fan even a single flame

of inspiration

Today

I can’t make it through;

everything

I say, everything I do

coming out wrong

I just want to run away, hide somewhere;

oh, But where?

Today

I feel exposed to passers-by

staring at me,

even glaring at me,

as if suspecting

I am sick at heart, and all but falling apart

within and without

Today

a stranger smiled at me,

said “Hello”

before a growing crowd

ate him up

but his smile, kept company with me all day,

saved me from free fall

Tonight,

I find myself looking at M-E

on a rack

not of my own choosing,

blaming society,

need to take responsibility for myself, and get a life,

start thinking positively

Tonight,

a Coming of Age for latecomers

to self-esteem,

living and partly living;

needs must get real,

hopefully take a lover (two of a kind) endgame, peace

of mind

Tomorrow

I will look out for any smiles,

ignore glares,

might even dare a “Hello”

here and there,

give positive feedback the chance it deserves

to help mend frayed nerves

Tomorrow

I, too, will test a friendly grin

on a world

where hate crime on the rise,

(no surprises there)

and seek out others just like me, still growing into

into life, love, and sexuality

Copyright R. N. Taber 2020