WRITING PROMPT

On Rewind

A haiku on connection

As Delta rages Fear of togetherness sets In again; I sink.

Earlier this summer it felt as if we, as a society, as a world, had beat Covid. We had a vaccine and cases were going down. We felt safer. We began to congregate again — to come together in person with others, to hug, to touch, to be in togetherness, to shed fear and anxiety, and to be present in connected togetherness with others once again. Covid was behind us it seemed.

And then Delta reared its ugly head and here we are again, as if on rewind — going back in time.

The fear is back, the uncertainty spiking, only this time along with pandemic fatigue and political strife; separating us even further when we’re already starving for connection.

I am someone who thrives in togetherness, who craves others. The pandemic has been the most challenging time of my entire life and I’ve been through my share of hard things.

Coupled with fear and anxiety, the isolation of the pandemic, the fear of being with people has turned my life upside down.

While I have come to cherish my alone time and to better self-soothe, I still prefer togetherness — I am a touchy creature — yet being afraid of others doesn’t fit my worldview. Hence, I feel disconnected — from others, from life as I knew and liked it, and even from myself as I continue to struggle to adapt.

I write here to connect. I tweet and Instagram and Facebook sharing my life in desperate attempts to feel connected to others. Sometimes it even works, temporarily satisfying my craving in some way, but it never fully quenches my thirst. I ache for in-person connections and fear them all at once. I feel myself sinking as this thing rewinds and we backtrack— reversing any progress we’d made.

And so I invite you as part of Being Known’s September Writing Prompt to join me in writing about this theme of connection, or lack thereof, during this crazy time in our lives. How are you staying connected with yourself, with others, and with what is important to you?

Tell us and maybe we’ll all feel a little closer to one another in the process. Remember to tag this piece and tag your friends to invite them into this conversation with us. I’ll start by inviting Carolyn Riker, Aimée Gramblin, Sarene B. Arias, Sarah L. Harvey, Randy Shingler, and Vixen Lea.

Let’s spread togetherness!

Galit Birk, PhD is a life coach and a soon-to-be-therapist. She has a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling. She is a writer, an editor, and a poet. She is a single mom. She is a deep-feeler who is passionate about people having it all, and living a life they love! Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.