July is upon us, the second half of 2021 has commenced, the pandemic is supposedly over and we will celebrate America's birthday on the fourth. As I sit and ponder the significance of all these "mile stones," I wonder what's next with my life's journey? I think to myself every morning how far I have come in my evolution and what is in store. That Was Then, This Is Now has become my mantra. Therefore, this month I want to explore both my journey and society's journey over the last 12 months.
This time last year I had just up rooted my entire life, moved to Boise to begin again. This time last year, I had just sold my house in Washington, a state I had lived in for almost 20 years and moved to a new area where I knew very few people, where I woke up every morning in the high desert, hot weather and plenty of sunshine. These were all things that I manifested but every morning I'd ask myself what the heck did I just do? That Was Then.
The That Was Then continues with society as a whole. Then, back in 2020, we were in the full throttle of an election that was contentious, foreboding and filled with vitriol (this was on both sides mind you, not just one). The pandemic was going strong and a sense of foreboding was in the air. Masks were required even if we were at the gas station and don't mention the price of gas between then and now. That Was Then was when we had no clue when this madness would stop! We couldn't go to the movies, dine in a restaurant or work out at the gym. Zoom calls became our new normal and social distancing became our best friend. Our lives were constrained by new laws, rules, regulations and a sense if we step out of line, we'd get our hands slapped or even worse. I remember seeing a picture somewhere of a surfer out in the waters of Malibu, wearing that stupid freaking mask! We'd see people alone in their car wearing that God forsaken face diaper! That Was Then.
The "Then's" started to slowly change in the fall. All of the sudden like magic, masks were being questioned, the seriousness of the "virus" was being challenged and by Christmas, the bindings that tied us so tightly were slowly loosening their grip. Change was in the air, we could smell the sweetness of possible freedom. There was a glimmer of hope all of the sudden, or so proclaimed Fake News. Then poof, the diabolical little doctor, changed his tune (from one day to the next) and maybe the seriousness of this pandemic was possibly overstated. Maybe just maybe, getting a vaccine was the ticket to freedom. Maybe just maybe the facemasks didn't work after all. Maybe just maybe all of this was in vain.
I know thousands of people died from this dreaded disease. We have one close friend and several elderly acquaintances, all of who had underlying conditions, that sadly died from Covid. I don't want it so I succumbed to the bullying and nasty comments and got the jab. It didn't kill me obviously and the side effects were not major but my sense of self was lessened. I'm sorry I got the jab and I won't get the third jab as frankly, I'm not sure it works anyway. I stepped out of my integrity and sense of self and let my body become a Guinea Pig. No I didn't grow horns, or have my period restart but I did loose a bit of self respect for allowing myself to be bullied and mocked. That my friends was Then.
So This Is Now, July 2021. I see very few in my area wearing the mask. I see beautiful smiling faces again. Ballparks are open, outdoor market places are back in full swing, churches, restaurants and public pools are back in business. Living here in beautiful Idaho has given me a renewed sense that something is going right again. Thank goodness we did not have all the restrictions here, that were imposed in other states. I feel for those living in states where the rules and regulations are still in effect, where governors still have their heads up their collective butts and are imposing strict regulations as to who can do what. This Is Now, the sunshine, hot summers and smell of freedom rings true. I no longer wake up wondering what the hell I did but thank the Universe daily for bringing me to Boise, introducing me to new people and ideas and reintroducing me to me.
The "This Is Now Me" is a new person. I have moved on with my life and have become someone very different that the person I left in Seattle. This girl is ripe and ready for new challenges, a new beginning and has renewed hope and an understanding that this is not all there is. New thoughts and ideas await me as I move through this time of my life. This new beginning is wonderful and I pray that society as a whole, takes on the same challenge to begin again.
So in conclusion, what can we do to be in the "This Is Now?" First of all, read and study both sides of the equation. If it smells rotten, it's rotten. Second, be who you are and do not allow yourself to be bullied into something that is not right for you. Third, stand up for what is right. Stand up for the principals our country was founded on and be true to yourself. We live in America folks, not a third world shit hole. It's time we turn the tide on the madness that overtook us in 2020, the That Was Then, and begin to Live in the Now. America is worth saving. Our sense of freedom, integrity and sense of self is worth everything our forefathers fought and died for. We need to get off our butts and speak out for what we hold dear. It's time folks, to Begin Again, in the Now.
Happy Birthday America, from the one who lived in the "Then" but now lives in the "Now!"
