Does anyone else feel a sense of relief and a feeling they can breathe again?
I didn’t realise how much of a toll the past six months have taken on my body until it was all over.
And I am not talking about COVID!
The electioneering that has been going on for what feels like 6 months when it is supposed to be only 6 weeks has been draining, exasperating, nauseating, fatiguing and a lot of other emotions.
And now it is over. <insert elated smiley face>
But what is the best thing about it being over?
Regardless of the politics of it all – I am just happy to have less talking, shouting, arguing, mansplaining, pontificating, yelling, asking stupid questions, analysing, surmising (tackling small children) etc, etc.
I do wish the poor and homeless, the people of Lismore, the disabled and many other groups had all the money that went into that vortex and bottomless pit of political advertising.
Let’s all have a break for a while and get on with some joy in our lives – like some silence, some breathing, some laughter, some contemplation…..quiet contemplation and then some reflective breathing.
Let’s resolve in that quiet contemplation that we will have respite from the angry unkindness of politics. That we bring people together on a journey down a different path, a path with lots of women changing the tone of this space. A path of young people who might work in a low paid job and have lived experience of struggling to pay the rent. A path where someone has had the joy of working with dolphins, of someone who has saved children’s lives and values health and well-being for what it is.
Let’s look forward to celebrating compassion and seeing collaboration in our House. Let’s change the narrative – starting with that ghastly term Mr Speaker – gosh what would happen if a woman was chosen in the role?
But there are two things that have made my shoulders relax and my breathing become easier.
One is to see our beautiful family go home to Bilo.
And the other is to see our nation be guided gently, supportively, heroically down the path to committing in full to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
It has only taken five years <insert shaking head emoji>
The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.
