avatarSylvia Wohlfarth

Summary

The author reflects on the necessity of adapting to change, particularly giving up a car-free, eco-friendly lifestyle to ensure personal safety during the COVID-19 pandemic by purchasing a car for commuting in Ireland.

Abstract

The text is a personal narrative detailing the author's recent experiences and decisions influenced by the ongoing global health crisis. Despite initial aspirations to live sustainably without a car, the author confronts the harsh reality of the pandemic's impact on their daily life. The resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the approaching winter, with its associated health risks, lead the author to reconsider their stance on car ownership. The purchase of a car signifies a significant shift in the author's lifestyle, balancing the desire for environmental responsibility with the need for personal safety and independence. The author's reflections are framed as a response to a cultural prompt on the theme of "CHANGE," acknowledging the tension between optimism and pragmatism in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Opinions

  • The author initially aspired to a sustainable, car-free lifestyle but felt compelled to change due to the pandemic.
  • There is a sense of disappointment and loss in abandoning previous ideals for practical reasons.
  • The author values personal safety and independence, which the car represents in the context of the pandemic.
  • The decision to buy a car is seen as a necessary adaptation to maintain health and freedom amidst rising COVID-19 cases.
  • The author expresses a complex emotional response to change, including a mix of resignation, hope, and nostalgia for past freedoms.
  • The narrative suggests that the pandemic has forced a reevaluation of personal values and lifestyle choices.

Cultural Prompt

Out Of Breath

“C H A N G E”

Image by Moni Mckein from Pixabay

I sit and watch and see and know i have to be the one to look and seek for me i muse, where will this take me to if not beyond my fantasy, oh my, i cry my life, my faith, my dreams all made me what and who i deemed i was conceived to be

But now my hopes to live a life car-free and eco-green are crushed and crumbly i watch the sea, the waves, i smell the breeze i cheer and heed that i am free but then “how long?” i ask and catch my breath and feel my curls soak up the salty drops, and next

I sigh, “what price for liberty?”, my head hangs high, hopeful i can afford the fee and so, in future be and stay germ-free

I’ve been very busy over the last few weeks getting back to living in Ireland and my face-to-face teaching job. A difficult adjustment under the shadow of increasing COVID-19 cases. One radical change has been to buy a car. I cannot see myself going to work by public transport any longer, and particularly not in winter… with everybody coughing and sneezing. I so hoped I could do without… but then I do scent the allure of past independence and adventure.

So, from this week on, I’m a car owner once again. Change, here I come.

In response to Øivind H. Solheim’s “Blue Insights Cultural Prompts — September 2020” : Change

Thank you.

Poetry
Blue Insights
Cultural Prompt
Writing Prompts
Change
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