The administrative shit-show swirling around us, what is passing for government for and by the people these days, is built on creating artificial scarcity, emotionally as well as in product. it all leads to a dearth of love. It ends up manifesting as exclusion, even as we are being told that this is the way to survive. Have purity codes, in whatever form, ever worked? Do read Robin Wall Kimmerer's new book/series of essays, called "The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World." in it she says, "Wealth and security come from the quality of our relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency." I so appreciate you sharing the sacramental encounter with the grocery clerk. What grace!
Oh MY! Where to start?! You have hit (bounced down?) SO many levels of our current human condition in this piece, from the internal, very personal (we share far more vulnerabilities and coping techniques than I had imagined), to the interpersonal (both abject fear of the others yet wishing for a “real human” when stuck in a menu with no applicable choices), to those trying to help others with these associations and perhaps more often dissociations, to the Orwellian national political mess where language is rapidly losing any useful meaning in the era of money = “free speech” and institutions themselves appear to dissociate from their leaders when necessary or convenient…[did I use too many commas? They seem to proliferate when making too many associations]
I don't know if it is heartening, or disheartening to hear, but much of my time working with large institutions (healthcare, education and others) is spent on these exact interactions. The variations of person to person, person to electronic, where touch is allowed, where voice is allowed, where sight is allowed, etc. is under constant scrutiny and is being reconsidered daily. Telling the human side is as critical as understanding the pressures and fears (yes fear) of those 'behind the glass'.
Bravo! I feel keenly aware of and in constant struggle between association and disassociation as you put it, under the guise of avoid the latter (For the greater good!) but often not having the wherewithal to avoid it. Heck, I might even tell you this in person?!
What a marvelous essay. Thank you.
Looking for a way to jimmy the the human connection to spark can become a hobby. Bless your grocery clerk for the tinder. Bless you for the flame.
The administrative shit-show swirling around us, what is passing for government for and by the people these days, is built on creating artificial scarcity, emotionally as well as in product. it all leads to a dearth of love. It ends up manifesting as exclusion, even as we are being told that this is the way to survive. Have purity codes, in whatever form, ever worked? Do read Robin Wall Kimmerer's new book/series of essays, called "The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World." in it she says, "Wealth and security come from the quality of our relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency." I so appreciate you sharing the sacramental encounter with the grocery clerk. What grace!
Oh MY! Where to start?! You have hit (bounced down?) SO many levels of our current human condition in this piece, from the internal, very personal (we share far more vulnerabilities and coping techniques than I had imagined), to the interpersonal (both abject fear of the others yet wishing for a “real human” when stuck in a menu with no applicable choices), to those trying to help others with these associations and perhaps more often dissociations, to the Orwellian national political mess where language is rapidly losing any useful meaning in the era of money = “free speech” and institutions themselves appear to dissociate from their leaders when necessary or convenient…[did I use too many commas? They seem to proliferate when making too many associations]
This is a powerful piece. Thank you for your thoughtful observations and crisp sentences. It hits home.
Thanks Ralph. It’s never clear to me how anything I put out there might be received. It’s great to hear it’s hitting.
This one is a bullseye.
I don't know if it is heartening, or disheartening to hear, but much of my time working with large institutions (healthcare, education and others) is spent on these exact interactions. The variations of person to person, person to electronic, where touch is allowed, where voice is allowed, where sight is allowed, etc. is under constant scrutiny and is being reconsidered daily. Telling the human side is as critical as understanding the pressures and fears (yes fear) of those 'behind the glass'.
Again thank you. This is one I plan to share.
Bravo! I feel keenly aware of and in constant struggle between association and disassociation as you put it, under the guise of avoid the latter (For the greater good!) but often not having the wherewithal to avoid it. Heck, I might even tell you this in person?!