moral of the story: bonus corona edition!

When thinking about the different reader lenses that we discussed in class, I thought about how, when we're young, we're taught to read through a moralist lessons - there's always a moral to the story. 

Now, I'm guessing the reason why we read like this was because 1) stories with an obvious moral are easy to read/understand and 2) adults/teachers just needed to make sure none of us would grow up and become serial killers, so instilling morals at a young age was probably good.

But now, as high schoolers, we no longer read that way - we've traded deep (or in many cases, not so deep) life lessons for the strict functions of the formalist lens (tone and syntax - how exciting). 

And yet, that same hunger for a moral has not disappeared - instead, it has simply extended into our daily lives. We all long for a purpose, a meaning, a lesson to take away from our lives - a moral of a story you could say. 

Especially, during COVID, with all the expectations and plans that have been disrupted, it feels like the grasp for meaning presses on us more than ever. With all the things we've lost, is there something to be gained? I find myself looking back through quarantine, wondering if there was a moral to the story - perhaps a greater lesson to learn? An unconscious but profound truth that could make quarantine worthwhile?

And to be honest, as much as I've looked for one, I haven't really found much. Rather, than a large, overarching lessons, when I think of time spent in quarantine, my mind flashes a series of images - strung together, it seems, completely randomly.

Biking around Troy, delivering cookies to my friends. Almost being attacked by geese on a summer picnic. Taking a walk in the warm fall evening, crunching on the soft leaves underfoot.  

Small moments. On the surface, all these instances don't seem particularly life changing - just snapshots of what is otherwise my pretty average, mundane life. 

Maybe it's wishful thinking, maybe it's me desperately searching for connections so I can write something for this blog post (this seems to be a common pattern for me in English class), but, upon further reflection, I realize that all these moments stick in my mind for a purpose. Each of these instances, no matter how trivial, reminded me that, despite all the chaos in the world, there is still joy to be found. Whether it's that warm sentimental feeling you get when giving gifts to friends, the simple pleasure of a fall walk, or even the horror (and subsequent laughter), or almost being victimized by geese (I see you geese on Northfield Parkway). 

the geese are coming to get you (and me, probably)

Perhaps the moral of a story isn't something that has to be grand. Maybe it's just something small, even borderline cliche. And yet, in the middle of the chaos of college apps and corona and an unexpected senior year, those small moments and lessons are what keep me going from day to day, and from week to week. And that is enough for me. 

disclaimer:  as much as I talk about how corona has kind of been unexpected and impacted my life, I do want to acknowledge that as far as corona impact goes, I am extremely priviliged. Besides minor annoyances and a change in how social situations work,  my life hasn't been dramatically upended by any means - in comparison to millions of americans who have lost their jobs and even lost ones! so yea, just wanted to check myself here haha. ok, that's all I want to say. thanks. bye!