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We are still in the pandemic, despite our governments and many people around the world doing their best to ignore it, while witnessing genocides in Congo, Sudan, and Palestine. It’s upsetting to see historical cycles repeat themselves like this as we learn nothing from the past. I think future generations will look back at the way we responded to the pandemic and shake their heads at the ways we could’ve prevented spread and eradicated the disease instead of letting it rip. I hope they learn from our mistakes and do better for each other.

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It's clear that there is room for improvement in our response to crises.... Let us hope that future generations will heed these lessons and prioritize collective well-being.

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While I've heard the names of these artists, I knew nothing about them. The time period you covered is especially interesting because it so closely parallels our own. It's as if the 21st Century is replaying the horrors of the 20th. A terrifying Ground Hog Day scenario. Poetry came to my rescue during COVID, inspiring me to write at least two poems about it. So many different stories came out of that time depending upon where people lived: in rural or urban places, with conservative or liberal populations. There's enough to compile a book probably.

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The parallels between the challenges then and now are striking, really. It is inspiring to hear how poetry served as a lifeline during COVID, propelling personal expression. I'm sure this era in addition to all the bad, also had room for new skills and passions to blossom. So beautiful.

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There were many positive lessons to learn from the pandemic. Lockdown forced people into a new way of living with work and family, as well as giving them time to discover and nurture latent talents and yearnings. The rebellion toward returning to the office was powerful in so many ways. There's little reason to return to that other than to rescue lunchtime restaurant businesses and commercial real estate moguls. woodums! Ciities are vibrant places with plenty of population therein. Why cram more bodies into this limiting space when people would prefer their own villages outside the perimeter? And so much healthier too. Perhaps the UN Agenda 21 people are still beating their drums to herd us off the land and into cities, but that another tinfoil hat theory I hope no longer applies.

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May 6·edited May 6Author

You're right, it's great to find positivity in challenging times. While urban areas have their allure, many have found solace and fulfillment outside city limits. The pandemic highlighted the value of flexibility and the importance of prioritizing personal well-being. Personally, I found a lot of tranquility and benefits in nature, as I tell in this story.

https://open.substack.com/pub/followmentalgarden/p/the-psychology-of-forests?r=3fl9xz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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