In Fredericton, in our province and across this great country is opportunity to learn and to teach. I was struck by this on a trip to the big city recently as my friend and I talked about all the new housing developments going up in and around the city, a common trend across the country. I have often wondered if the many apartment complexes have a ‘good mix’ of young, old, persons with disability, students, retired, stay at home Moms. That sort of thing. Within those groups would be amazing resources for learning, for teaching. Then came the tiny home developments. What a great idea for those looking to find a way out of poverty. Those of us who can, have a duty to help. That’s as it should be.
COVID has changed the landscape of daily living, affecting the very young and the very old. Housing has changed for many; downsizing for seniors, sometimes the tragic loss of home due to inability to afford rent or mortgage when employment income doesn’t meet demands of costs of daily living. COVID isolation has impacted everyone. Know that.
Many cities have certain areas, by virtue of location, street address, being identified as ‘bad neighbourhoods’. The reality is that not everyone who lives on those streets, in those subsidized housing units, are bad people, criminals, drug addicts, or abusers of women and children. Low income housing developments should not immediately imply that the people are ‘less than’, ‘low class’, ‘no class’, ‘users and losers’. We can’t know what life circumstances have invaded the personal lives of those who live in such places. At least they’re not on the street, challenged by the elements and becoming sick in both body and mind. For that, they are grateful. Must their circumstance continue to punish them when they are trying to get out from under, many with a new start, in a new place?
In holding on to misguided beliefs about a person because of where he lives, we deny ourselves many opportunities to learn and to teach. We deny our children. We can’t afford to continue with that practice if we, in this province, are to survive. To grow. Our youth is our future, with some young people wanting to stay and make their own ‘grown up’ lives here in New Brunswick, as we ‘of a certain age’ are moving closer to the finish line of our life’s road. In times such as these, young connecting with old is a good thing.
It is therefore critical that we adopt a more inclusive attitude towards the younger generations. Some of them are lost in depression because of loneliness.
Living in isolation in all those pretty houses is frustrating happiness and emotional growth across ages and stages, across generations. These challenging times call for us to become WE people, reaching out to lift up those who need encouragement. Defying health and wellness protocols is not going to help anyone in the long term. Folks have lost sight of that reality because they feel that their rights have been impinged upon. I have to say, that selfish view is insulting to those who have been isolated for years due to circumstances beyond their control and then slapped down again by COVID. Imagine their stress. Extend your hand.
I’m not alone in the belief that blending of people from different walks of life in various housing developments is an ideal way for young and old to meet and get to know one another and not be weighted down by how much money so and so makes or who is driving the best car, the fastest car. The circle of life lives on, on any street in any city or town in the country. We need to gather up a bunch of circles and reacquaint ourselves with lives, not just living in isolation with all our stuff. The happiness stuff brings is fleeting.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with an aging Australian silky terrier and a rambunctious Maltese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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