While Covid has delivered fear, anxiety, grief and isolation for many around the world, it has also arrived with an invitation. An invitation to reset and reimagine our lives. For me, it has arrived with a welcomed and unexpected change, offering time to pause, to reflect upon my journey, and to re-evaluate priorities. Luckily, I no longer have to worry about my aging parents in long-term care as they have both passed. I can only imagine the worry of dealing with vulnerable loved ones.
Away from the busy fray, no longer commuting to work or running errands, life slowed to a snail’s pace and I could hear myself thinking once again, dreaming of possibilities, and a new way of being in the world. It is as if I had entered a slipstream towards a gentler and more creative life.
My socializing circle has also changed. Almost one year ago, I responded to a call to be part of a participatory action research group in England to examine the merits of using the ‘art of witnessing’, the filmmaking technique I studied and use today. I joined a small group of strangers, filmmakers hailing from France, England and Wales. Once the project had ended, we determined that the wealth of our collective wisdom-sharing was too rich to part with. So, we continue and have been meeting on Zoom each week, come rain, shine, or lockdown.
What started as a research project with strangers has evolved into a ritual among friends. Through Covid despair, personal and professional upheaval, sharing technical and creative ideas for editing, and perfecting the art of remote filming, we have become fast friends. One day, we shall meet in person and raise a glass to our good fortune in answering the call and finding each other a world away.