The world is in lockdown. The old order of things now suddenly dangerous, or illegal. Simple pleasures like lunch with a friend, or a walk in the park are deemed a potential hazard to others. It’s time for reflection and patience, not anger and rebellion. My guess is that we will get a mix of the two. And the outcome will be better or worse depending on which instincts win, no matter what law makers rule. The worst thing it seems is not the sense of disruption to the here and now. Outside the privileged first world we live in, few of the troubles we currently face would be deemed sufferance. The worst thing is the lingering worry and endless uncertainty. When will this end? When will things return to “normal”? The predicted days turn into weeks, turn into months and now, perhaps, the reality will be many years of restrictions and disruption.

The thing to not lose is all sense of optimism and hope. There’s nothing naive about seeing some glimmer, the green shoots, the daffodils, the acts of kindness, the re-connection with loved one’s we’d normally neglect in the hurriedness of being busy busy busy. Regrettably, I am sure I will return here on the Corona topic. I am also sure others will be way more articulate than me on a topic I struggle to properly comprehend. So I’m thinking about hope - and what that means. As the escaped prisoner Andy said to his friend Red in The Shawshank Redemption: “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies. I hope this finds you well. Get busy living.” JD