The rise and fall of Macondo 100 Years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
While our Covid quarantine is on the point of completing 3 months, many people have been forced to examine the dark crevices of their beings they were never familiar with, or perhaps they were familiar with them, but just previously chose to sweep them under the carpet. Our long drawn our quarantine has proved to act in the same manner an LSD trip would. They say if you're in a bad mood, don't drop acid, because you'll end up with a bad trip that could potentially cause you to jump out the window of a 5 story building deluding yourself into believing you can fly while singing R. Kelly's killer 90's hit (You know, before the whole pee pee incident..).
Our rapid fire advances in technology have permitted us with more opportunities to remain in constant contact with each other, yet despite being constantly connected, and having all the opportunities to get in touch with others at the tips of your fingers, some have never felt more isolated than ever. While doing my best to remain in contact with people who are dear to me, I've witnessed all sorts of vastly varying perceptions regarding the quarantine and covid that differ from individual to individual.
Till death do us part...
Some consider this time off a blessing, to catch up on some good old alone time involving themselves in their hobbies more than ever. Some take advantage of the weather and have a picnic at the park with close friends and family while having a laugh. Some take advantage and busy themselves while learning a new skill that will contribute to making them more well rounded human being.
But as I've witnessed myself, I'm sure you have as well, the degradation of the mental health of many is on a rampant rise. Some individuals are not OK with solitude, and spend all day digging themselves deeper into conspiracy theories on you tube while others celebrate the fact that they can finally BE in peace. It's really a question of each individuals perception of reality. Some need to cope, other's don't and could do this all year round (Perhaps like a writer? Who was already in the habit of spending long periods of time alone in their imagination.)
Stewie trying to keep it together
I recently read 1982 winner of the Nobel prize of literature "One hundred years of solitude" By Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Set over the course of over a century, Marquez recounts the tale of the rise and subsequent fall of Macondo over the course of a century, a fictional village in Columbia loosely based off Marquez's vivid childhood growing up in Latin America. It deals with the bloodline of the Buendia family dating back from great great great grandfathers, to great great great grandchildren and the curse in the family bloodline that seems to repeat itself with time... The book recurrently touches on the theme of solitude, and how each individual, at some point of their life, are doomed to deal with their own sense of solitude all alone.
Marquez creating One Hundred Years Of Solitude... While in complete solitude
If you'd like to get a grasp on your own solitude, and perhaps accept, and come to peace with it, I'd highly recommend this life changing work of literature. Often times one can relate to the inner world of a non existent character from a story more than anyone they actually know in real life itself. From revolutionary movements, to meaningless massacres, to alluring gypsy women, to incestuous love affairs, and completely losing your mind in the pits of despair, One Hundred Years Of Solitude has it all.
There's no hiding from it, we came into this world alone, and we die alone. We all have to deal with the fact that at certain stages of life, we all must deal with our own excruciating solitude, and there's no one to hold your hand down the path you must walk down, alone as an individual.
