Nicely written Carolyn,

I believe the shortness of empathy and shallowness of humanity that is appearing in society has been a smoldering affliction that began long before Covid.

I have had the good fortune to travel internationally five times during Covid and also internally in Spain, Japan and Canada. I have sensed that in some cities, even in some boroughs there are areas of angst, a malaise, or discontent that pervades the very air of the hood. One such area is Gracia in Barcelona. I used to love the area. It is quite Bohemian and free minded, laid back and lower income, but correspondingly higher creativity and yet now ... there is a darkness, a negativity that seeps on the streets. In Tokyo, where I write from today, stress levels are always high; density, heat, traffic, over-regulation, rabid consumerism and yet... kindness and respect abound. I can walk Tokyo and feel a positivity that the difficulties will be overcome. I walk Gracia and frowns, hunched shoulders and distrust emanates. It wasn't always like this in Barca.

Maybe it's me, but I believe worldwide people are shifting their base premise of what life should be and how we should interact with it. Covid just made us look at it closer. Hopefully we are evolving to more wholistic accepting life. - Except maybe the cat lady. Her only friend is no doubt the cat.

Nice story.K