Dr. Mario and the General Election
Today’s been difficult. Knowing that many people are celebrating this election result makes it that much harder for the millions of us who are sad and scared.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about books, films and games as places to hide – particularly when those things are relics from childhood, like Harry Potter, Disney movies or Mario games. Hiding is something I’ve done in previous elections, and something I was determined not to repeat this time. I wanted to participate, not just spectate, in the fightback against climate change and poverty – to get off the internet and out into the world. It was energising and heartening to meet people on doorsteps, and have conversations about the future – even if last night didn’t bring the one many of us hoped for.
About three weeks ago, I got a phone call which changed a lot of things I thought were certain. No one’s ill – and there are, of course, far worse things – but it’s a call I wish hadn’t been made. I’m lucky I was with friends at the time, and that there are people I love who I can talk to, anytime. But in the immediate aftermath I was too scared and sad to talk to anyone. There was however, one thing I could think to do: play Mario. Just for a bit – just so I had somewhere to put the pain for a while. The bright colours gave me something to look at against the grey, and solving puzzles and jumping across lava gave my spinning mind something to focus on. Mario gave me somewhere to hide, until I could talk to the people I love. Which in turn allowed me to face the puzzles and lava pits in the real world.
I wanted to share that, because today I feel like hiding again, and I know I’m not alone. We can’t hide forever, but we must allow ourselves these moments to feel what we’re feeling, if we’re to regroup and face the world again. People are already talking about things we can do to move forward: organisations which could use our time and money, and strategies for what will, for many of us, be a very difficult few years. I admire this, and I’m encouraged by it. But I’m not quite there yet. So, if you aren’t either, if you’re too scared and sad, it’s okay to find your equivalent of playing Mario for a while. And when you have, talk to the people you love.
We’ll find the energy to face the world again.
