Looking beyond the narrative…

Have you ever experienced a book you love being made into a film—only to feel extremely disappointed by how much never actually made it in and the extent to which it was simplified?

I would suggest that something similar takes place when real-life stories are shared in various forms of media. Just as novels or even television series are much more detailed and complex than films can afford to be in such a short space of time, the truth of any situation is always much too complex to condense into a good headline and article—and is usually so nuanced that it might often raise more questions than it does answers.

In the current pandemic—which seems to be endlessly dragging on—there are many complex situations taking place that were difficult to imagine a couple of years ago as we freely enjoyed our lives, mobility, health and perhaps a level of unity. The stresses and strains associated with COVID-19 are numerous and far-reaching—and like the novel coronavirus, they do not discriminate. I think it is safe to say that no single individual has had an easy time of it since that fateful week in March 2020.