The Great Divide
I’ve been trying to figure out why I’m so overwhelmed by everything lately. Why I’m toxing out on everything going on; in the news, within humanity and the world around me. At first, I thought it was this damn virus, the pandemic, and its associated fatigue. Then, I thought it was because of everything going wrong in my life; relationships I’ve had to end, things going wrong with vehicles, pool pumps, house reno projects that turned into near rebuilds, and so on. Then, I thought it was simply another form of compassion fatigue. Caring too much for people, and the adverse effect of that on my life and psyche throughout a pandemic, and all of its secondary dramas and traumas. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. I couldn’t put my finger on what was causing this anxiety and lingering sense of malaise. Until I read about our provincial government’s decision to implement vaccine passports for non-essential indoor events and gathering places.
That this was happening, in itself, was bad enough; the fact that we had arrived at this point because of everything going on, but what hit me hardest was people’s comments. Hate-filled diatribes about the unvaccinated, like those I mentioned in a previous post. And, the polar opposite but equally as harmful rhetoric by the unvaccinated; calling vaccinated people names, using terms like, “sheeple”. So much hate. So much division. So little compassion. And, I realized what was at the root of this malaise. Realized what this heavy burden was, within me. It was the division.
It was the great divide within society that was causing this heavy burden, on me and on every human being on the planet, right now. And, it bothered me as much as it did; was as heavy as it was for me because, I’d given the majority of my life sharing compassion and showing empathy to these people or people like them. I’d spent the better part of my life serving and protecting others, to help ease their burdens. And, what for? If this is how humanity was going to behave anyway? Why bother unburdening them, if all it served to do was allow them to bash, beat down and burden others? Why help these people? Why bring people together? If the ultimate and inevitable outcome was always going to be this division, hatred and impatience with one another?
“We're all so far, so far apart now It's as deep as it is wide We're about to fall apart now If we can't reach the other side We gotta find a way across the great divide” - Luke Combs, Billy Strings, “The Great Divide”
I’ve given so much of myself to others, my entire adult life. Served them, protected them; as adults and as children and youth. Helped them survive, and sometimes, even heal. Brought people together, to help one another. Been there for people in their darkest hours. Seen them through that darkness and pain. And, ignored or micromanaged my own pain and burdens, during and throughout the process, in order to do so. I’ve lost so much because of my ‘work’; paid and volunteer. Mentoring, crisis intervention, group home and women’s shelter work and volunteer work. Policing, counselling and many other positions in the helping profession. Now, I’m done.
I can’t be that for others anymore. I can’t lift people up, just so that they can drag others down. I can’t bring people together, just so they can drive others apart. As the song says, we’re all far apart now, and we’re falling apart because of it. I’m falling apart because of it.
We need to start using some of that compassion that we’re always asking for, from others. We need to start viewing things from others’ perspectives; listening with ears ready to hear, learn and understand. We need to approach people and our differences from a place of compassion and understanding so that we can figure out what it is that makes us different and why. We need to celebrate our differences and learn from one another. I know, easier said than done throughout a pandemic where the division is not only exacerbated but seemingly nurtured; by politicians, news media and social media. We need to learn and teach, with patience and empathy. And, we need to show love to those who seemingly deserve it the least, in our eyes. Not cause further division by being impatient, unloving and in some cases, downright hateful. We need to change our approach. Or, we’re going to fall into the void, ourselves.
What’s that look like? Other than compassion, empathy, love and kindness, I don’t really know. But maybe that is the answer. Maybe it truly is that simple. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Online and in real life. And don’t allow yourself to fall into the ‘hate trap’. Stop being so damned intolerant and bigoted. Stop thinking only of yourself. Start thinking of others. Stop labelling people. Stop hating people because of the labels you attached to them, yourself. And, start seeing people as people; vaccinated, or unvaccinated. Among so many other labels we seem to love attaching to other humans.
Again, I say, and as the song suggests, we’re all far apart now, and we’re falling apart because of it. I’m falling apart because of it. We need to find a way to bridge this divide before it’s too late. Or, at least close the gap somehow. Before we all plummet into the void it’s left in its wake.