I hadn’t thought about it until this morning. I was perusing a thread in one of the writer’s groups I’m in on Facebook, and someone posted an amusing meme that referenced the pandemic, dystopian novels, and the conservative party. It didn’t take long before people jumped to politics and someone thought it was a slam against the US president. Then someone else pointed out that the original poster is from the UK and it was maybe referencing their conservative party. We are not, after all, the only country with conservative and progressive political parties. How quickly a sardonic meme about the difficulty of writing dystopian stories during a pandemic turned a bit ugly! That’s when yet another commenter jumped in with, “We are all on tenterhooks right now.”
What a great word, and one I haven’t heard or thought about in ages! It’s quite true, though. So many people — myself included — are much more sensitive to things than usual. I’ve found myself questioning the intelligence of people who are denying science and believing politicians over scientists. Someone I know who usually would be pretty live-and-let-live was indignant about other people’s choices regarding mask wearing. Things that normally would elicit nothing more than an eyeroll and a headshake are making me feel angry. That makes me want to lash out at whoever I deem boneheaded in that moment. Tenterhooks. I have found myself wasting a lot of mental energy feeling angry when it’s not worth it. So I slow my roll, hike up my big girl panties, allow myself the exaggerated eye roll (like, really, who’s going to see me?), and scroll on or hit “delete.” It’s just not worth it.
I wish I could avoid social media altogether. Unfortunately, it is also the home of groups where I give and receive information. It’s where my business pages live. It’s an avenue for asking questions after my tween and I watch National Geographic Explorer virtual classes. (Very cool being able to ask the presenter follow-up questions on Twitter and getting responses!) It has its uses and functions, but it’s also become a vile place of vitriolic spewings and misinformation. It’s not worth seeing my friend’s adorable kid pics and my cousins’ latest happenings when there’s all the other junk to get through.
Are you finding yourself more sensitive these days? Does the pandemic and stay-at-home orders have you feeling like you’re on tenterhooks, unable to just brush off the usual mildly annoying things? Drop your comments below. And, please, let me know if there’s a way I can support and pray for you.
