Therapeutic Communities
Zanzibar 1 - 0 UK
Yesterday, I got back from one of the most inspirational and healing weeks I’ve spent so far in Zanzibar.
However, as soon as I stepped off the plane in the UK, I faced a barrage of negativity, starting with a train strike, making my journey from the airport more difficult than it should have been.
Most of the bus drivers didn’t really care to help but I was fortunate that one, not only told me what route and changes to take to get to my destination, but also dropped me between stops so I didn’t have to walk far to make my connection. Little things.
That reminded me of the day before when my friend’s taxi in Zanzibar wouldn’t start (dead battery). Within a minute, a complete stranger was there, bonnet up, jump leads at the ready, to get us moving again. Little things.
And so it was, back to my UK return… Road rage on the M25 once I’d finally got to Hounslow to recover my car. Home to fines and penalties because I missed some deadlines on paying my car tax and council tax, interest rate rise so higher mortgage repayments. Stuff like that. At least I had my youngest to take my mind off things, playing in the park after a picnic in the garden.
But to top it off, yet another Twitter suspension for a new account that had barely posted and certainly nothing contentious, just focussed on asking questions to keep the various regulatory authorities honest and transparent.
Even Twitter couldn’t put their finger on it. Just because?!
I only had 20 followers and the most interaction from a couple of climate change trolls, hell bent on twisting one of my tweets into something that it wasn’t.
The title of this post was actually going to be “Toxic Twitter”. But that would have just fed the negative energy, so I decided I wasn’t going to write it at all.
But then, I got this little gem in my inbox from Elliott Freed:
Hallelujah! Title change and change of tone and focus.
Juxtaposing my negative UK return against the positivity of Elliott’s musings, I refocused on the good of Zanzibar where I am building such a “therapeutic community” (to coin Elliott’s term).
How I would love to build such a community here in my home town, where I am trying to do some good by standing as a Reform Party candidate (more ammunition for the haters) but alas, I just don’t think western society is ready yet. Not quite yet. So sad.
In fact, so sad, that I tendered my resignation yesterday. Fortunately, I was talked around by my regional co-ordinator.
It’s OK to wobble (especially when tired after a 24-hour journey!). But, more important to stay the course, for our children’s sake (I have three under 12 in total). Like, George Christensen, I keep going for them.
So, it’s back to designing tree houses, donkey paths and community today. That’s the way to deal with toxic society!
So much LOVE for this post. Tree houses and nice people.
Welcome back. It reminds me of Michael Palin's 80 Days Around the World , where after meeting all sorts of friendly and extremely accommodating people all over the world, he gets back to the UK and is rudely shouted by a newspaper seller to "turn the ****** camera off" -)