SPECIAL ISSUE #19
FORCED CONSONANCE
I believe it is crystal clear by now that we live in times where consonance is to be enforced by all means. For two years now we have been hearing, seeing, and experiencing the same hideous narrative. Those who don't resonate with the same consonance are quite simply being marginalised.
Fortunately, there are still people who fight. They are fighting to preserve our basic rights, and even if we know that things will never be the same again, the first priority should now be to limit the damage. The biggest danger is when autumn comes and politics steps in again and will most certainly make the last two years look like a picnic - even if it's hard to imagine at the moment, but they know how to do it now.
Since the plandemic, people's social behaviour has become even more disturbed than before. I would like to give you just one example of this, something that disgusts and disturbs me incredibly, and most people now find it completely normal and acceptable.
I am talking about something as banal and yet significant as the way people now greet each other.
If you enjoy reading my Change & Evolve Letter, I would be delighted if you share it with your friends!
Up until two years ago, it was good manners to shake hands in greeting - the first sign of trust and touch. You greet someone with a gesture of openness - an open hand.
Today it is customary - supposedly for hygienic reasons - to bump fists, give an elbow check or even touch each other with the feet. All these gestures come from combat sport and perhaps I am sensitive but I find these aggressive and simply refuse to participate.
It actually frightens me when someone comes at me with their fist and I certainly don't feel appreciated - but that's just me.
I find these gestures aggressive and antisocial - there is absolutely nothing cool about it.
But what's really interesting - and I can't resist doing it over and over again - is that when you hold out your hand in greeting, about 80% of people will accept it. I suppose it's an automatism that somehow still works. Apart from that, I've also ignored the fist that was held out to me or gave it a hearty shake with my open (and probably very unhygienic) hand.
Call me old-fashioned - and I stand by that because I am - but there are simply certain manners that are worth protecting and perpetuating.
🎶My Song of the Day
It was about time for this one….
For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!
📚My Poem of the Day
Is by one of my readers who has just recently performed his poetry - Jon Morrow! As this is a very personal piece by Jon, I would like to give you a little insight into this piece. So here is a little background:
This poem is about Jon’s dad who was at the Grapple atomic tests in 1957 on Christmas Island when UK was trying to develop its own nuclear weapons so we could get a seat at the table during nuclear talks. Without that the US could just threaten USSR with their weapons based in UK and if they overestimated their negotiating skills then it would be UK that would be wiped out! His dad did his National Service as an instrument technician on the tests, since he had a physics degree. Part of the job was also to witness the tests which they did by sitting on the beach with their backs to the explosion and with their hands over their eyes. They all said that they could see the bones in their hands through their closed eyes when the explosion went off! The birds didn’t know to protect themselves of course, and after the successful test, the birds on the island were all blinded. Jon’s dad died some time ago from cancer of the spine, a relatively rare cancer that it would be easy to conclude was a direct result of his exposure to the explosions. Impossible to prove of course, and there has been precious little recognition of the contribution to UK security made by people like his dad. But that’s quite a normal story…
The Christmas Island Present
Boys, seated in anticipation, eyes tightly closed
Waiting to unwrap the glittering surprise
Or stood on the beach like distant cousins
Squinting at a still unblemished cloudless sky
Celebrating a festive season in a different sun
The present: an heirloom to be handed down
Then men, freed of guilt, released like birds
But blinded and crashing through the trees
👀Impressions
This is a photo I took at the Königsplatz in Munich a few days ago during an open air tango event!
If you would like to connect with me, find out more about the Enneagram and yourself, and how it can transform you and your life, I would be happy to take the time for a speed coaching call that you can reserve right here go to my website or simply hit reply and get in touch with me directly.
Wishing you a wonderful day and please keep those simple gestures like taking someone’s hand into yours alive.
And a special thank you to Jon for letting me share his poetry 🙏🏽
Yours
Tanja 🤗