During the lockdowns, several people were complaining about not being able to socialize while many others enjoyed the lack of social responsibility. There was a wide range of responses, but there was also a rise in domestic abuse cases based on partners’ being required to spend longer time periods together. Multigenerational households were also forced to remain together, and while some families are safe enough, stress can build when so many people cohabitate, especially if the offspring had already moved out but needed to return for whatever reason. Economic opportunities are beginning to fall even further, and it would be helpful for the real estate industry to recognize that being alone should not be a privilege only for the wealthy.
Not being able to be alone forces people to turn inward for silence, but mental health is also chaotic based on all the things that are happening at once. Meditation is a bandaid when the wound is an inability to exist without being interrupted by the needs of others, whether family, employers, or partners. I can honestly say that sharing a room has been manageable, but when doing my best to socially engage without interruption, it becomes a real challenge. Living in shared space without any relief puts more stress on individuals, and going past vacant housing that people use for short-term rentals is irritating.
Yes, there are some places in public where people can go to be alone, but another issue about being in public is a highly emotionally unregulated population, and the inability of others to respect boundaries. Some people make it their mission in life to demand that others engage with them, and when an individual is trying to relax after an elevated state, such people create further agitation. If someone sits too long or tries to lie down to clear their head, they are accosted by law enforcement under suspicion of homelessness. Furthermore, there is a shrinking percentage of public space where people can exist without spending money, and in a world of economic distress, that means most of the population is forced to either be at work or home.
Being able to be alone should not be a privilege, any more than eating healthy food or living in a safe enough home. The problem is that imperial greed is so insatiable, and everyone is compelled to navigate life without having the time to take care of themselves. Teaching boundaries is essential if people are going to find any relief from the emotional deterioration of a collapsing empire.
Chasing A Dying Empire 