Agreeing is not necessary to get along
Seven months have passed since I posted a blog (07 March). Where did this year go? I went back and read my last communication and it was about looking for similarities rather than differences and coming together in comradery and peace. As excerpt from that blog -
We would be much better served to celebrate “global togetherness” day, or “we are one” day or a variety of marketing clichés here. What is the purpose of creating division, other than to distract from true issues? ….. The point: Why do we continue to create division when looking at similarities is the only way to move forward, together?
If you would have told me at that time - that seven months later - we would be even further divided, I would not have thought it possible. Correction: I would have believed in the possibility but had more faith in humanity that we would get it together. Just shows how naïve I am. Maybe I’m just a closet optimist. Correction: was. OK, I still am, but on a much smaller scale.
Although 2020 has been difficult on the island, I have no desire to leave my bubble right now. Distancing myself from all that is occurring on the mainland is not denial, it is self-preservation from the virus, negativity, and drama. I fear for our country and the world – it doesn’t matter who wins November’s election, chaos is going to ensue, and we will have another 4 years of childish bickering rather than working together.
Oh, how I wish traits like humility, understanding, tolerance, and ability to compromise worked their way back into society (and politics). Hate speech and negativity has infiltrated most topics and forums. Attempting to express opinions results in cyber bullies and trolls trying to bash you into agreeing with them. Agreeing is not necessary to get along. No opinions are “right," no opinions are “wrong,” and it is OK to differ. (Refer back to the humility, understanding, tolerance, and compromise comment). Like many, I'm at a total loss regarding what to do about.
(SCUBA UPDATE) On a positive note, Grace the turtle is back. Grace could be found sleeping in the same place, every day, for five months. She disappeared for about three months and arrived “home” a couple of weeks ago. I like to think she trekked to her hometown to lay eggs.
We also had a great juvenile season (summer). The Frederiksted Pier has several baby seahorses – on my most recent dive there, we spotted four separate seahorses; three of which were babies. For perspective, the adults are about eight inches “tall.” Babies are about five inches long right now. Additionally, it is not uncommon to find yellow, orange, or black frogfish.
Cane Bay has a lot more sand in the water now. Amazing to me how storms change the shallower underwater landscape. We had a few Tropical Storms pass by this season, but the hurricanes stayed north of us. Still, it was enough to cause a few changes on our north shore.
The Point: Let's table all of the negativity and choose to be a bit more tolerant. That would be a start.
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