THE NEW YEAR
The Isolation Blues;
reflections during covid-19
From the Journals of Henry David Thoreau
January 6, 1858
The first snow-storm of much importance. By noon it may be six inches deep…Very little evidence of God or man did I see just then, and life not as rich and inviting an enterprise as it should be, when my attention was caught by a snowflake on my coat-sleeve. It was one of those perfect, crystalline, star- shaped ones, six-rayed, like a flat wheel with six spokes, only the spokes were perfect little pine trees in shape, arranged around a central spangle. This little object, which, with many of its companions, rested un-melting on my coat, so perfect and beautiful, reminded me that Nature had not lost her pristine vigor yet, and why should we lose heart? Sometimes the pines were worn and had lost their branches, and again it appeared as if several stars had impinged on one another at various angles, making a somewhat spherical mass. There were mingled with these starry flakes small downy pellets also. This was at mid- afternoon, and it has not quite ceased snowing yet (at 10PM). We are rained and snowed on with gems. I confess that I was a little encouraged, for I was beginning to believe that Nature was poor and mean, and I was now convinced that she turned off as good work as ever. What a world we live in!
January 7, 1858
The storm is over, and it is one of those beautiful winter mornings when a vapor is seen hanging in the air between the village and the woods. Though the snow is only some six inches deep, the yards appear full of those beautiful crystals (star or wheel shaped flakes), lying light as a measure is full of value.
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We are soon to be running out of days in this year 2020 (and none too soon I might add…), a year like none other in its unexpectedness, its demands and its plot twists. Just making it to this point (relatively intact) should give one a well-earned sense of accomplishment. But the challenges will not expire at the end of the year, and new variations of problems will most likely emerge in 2021 that are an unknown as of now.
That is why a collective pause at this moment is so important, a chance to catch our breath before we head into the new year. Thoreau suggests that Nature, or connecting to the “pristine vigor” of the natural world is a means to restore our own perspective on living in the world of daily headlines and unending crises of one sort or another. Why should we lose heart? Perhaps it’s something as simple as noticing a small snowflake on your parka or looking to the cold winter night sky and seeing the glitter of gems. Nature can ground us in times of uncertainty and change and inspire us with its innate beauty. What’s so unsettling about many of our current circumstances is that it is nature itself that is trying to re-balance itself and the adjustments are disruptive to life as we’ve known it. The coronavirus pandemic is the first plague of my lifetime, but experts are expecting this as the first variation of more to follow…Global heating is leading to climate shifts that effect everything from biodiversity and agriculture to real- estate markets. These environmental stressors will drive economic, social and political issues for years to come. How can we not lose heart?
As Nature returns to balance, so too must we. Surprisingly enough, perhaps covid could be our crisis-induced guide. As we have been forced to do things differently during the pandemic, some of these changes have had a positive effect. The workplace model may look very different post-covid with more people working from home and traveling to the office less often leading to less traffic on the commute. People are re-thinking how they spend their time and money. Everyday things we have taken for granted (social contact, eating out, going to a movie) are suddenly being appreciated as essential to living a good life. Civic organizations and community involvement will gain new support across the board. There are downward trending realities as well, but the balancing of the two will be critical to those working for positive change. Do not lose heart. There are gems along the way that will flash a glint of light in your direction as you go. As Thoreau would say, “What a world we live in!”
Return to balance in the new year.
In the woods,
Dave
January 1, 2021