We have all experienced the life-altering affects by the pandemic. In THIS INTERVIEW you’ll learn its toll on writer, performer, and creative arts director KT The Conscious Poet.
The insightful and captivating founder of The Conscious Streamers took time to answer our “2000 BC Q&A”, reflecting on his life before COVID-19 and how things have changed personally and professionally since.
Tell us what you miss most from life before COVID-19.
What I miss most is the look of shock on people’s faces when you’re trying to show love! [Laughs]
Everyone’s hyper-sensitive now for good reason, but I’m a love-giver. Anytime I go to handshake or give a hug and get the “hold up”, the “back up”, the “give me one second”, the “give me an elbow” from people, I’m just like come on. We’ve got to exchange energy. So, for me, that’s what I miss the most.
Where were you when you learned about COVID-19 and how did you respond?
I learned the first day sitting in my room on my laptop. I was, actually, working at a hotel. I’d just started, and they shot me an email saying everybody was getting laid off until further notice.
I’d caught some chatter about it early in January, about “this thing” going around in China, but I didn’t know it had affected the U.S.A. to the point that they had to shut down.
What, for you, have been the personal and professional benefits, and setbacks, from the pandemic?
I think the benefits have been huge because I’ve always been a creative. The pandemic gave me time to reassess values, purpose, focus, and it forced me to be creative and commit to this. I was just writing, working on and mastering my craft, and it gave me the time to do that. It was a time of self-reflection. Me and God sitting and talking about what I really want to do.
I was running a fitness business before Covid. I pretty successful one. When schools shut down and gyms shut down, it was “Okay, now what?” The benefit was it forced me to go down a path I always wanted to do. It’s been fruitful. I’m thankful for it.
Setbacks? I’d say income, but I value so much more than just dollars. I value time more than anything else. That’s my main source of currency.
I did, however, lose a family member to it. That’s the most negative impact. That one hurt.
Do you have faith in the vaccine?
Wait a minute now… Come on, bro! You can’t just pop that one on me! You threw me a couple warm-up questions, then, alright, here we go!
Well, I say to each their own. That’s kind of where I leave it. I think what I don’t like to see is this narrative and situations happening where people are being discriminated against because they don’t have it, not being allowed places because they don’t have it. I see it as a divider.
When are we going to get to the point when you’re not going to allow people to travel, fly, go to school? All this because of not having the vaccine. That’s where it turns me off a little bit, but to each their own.
For the people who have the vaccine, that believe in the vaccine, have faith in your vaccine and be okay being around somebody that doesn’t … because you have faith in the vaccine. For those who don’t have it I say stick to your prerogative. If that’s something you feel comfortable with, continue to do that. And for both sides be mindful of everyone else’s perspective and perception.
Who do you talk to the most to keep your spirits up and help you stay optimistic?
God. That’s easy. All day. Prayer works for me.
And I have a spiritual mentor who I talk to when I need that interpersonal communication. And family – my mom, my grandma, and brothers in my inner circle. You’ve got to have a community. One person might not be there at the time you need it, so having a group of people you can reach out to is important.
Has the pandemic caused you to value your life and the lives of others more than you did already?
No because I’ve always been a caring person and I’ve always had a caring heart. I’ve always valued life in general.
I will say what it has done is, with Covid taking that family member away which was the first time I had a loss hit that close to home, put things into perspective in terms of what’s really important and to have an anchor.
As an entrepreneur we get lost up in trying to run a business. Don’t forget what really matters.
What about your immediate surroundings have you become more aware of?
I’ve always been a people watcher. So, what I’ve become most aware of is how people treat other people because of the pandemic. I try to be cognizant of that, making sure people still feel included; whether it’s showing love through touch, love through words of affirmation… I’ve noticed the way people act toward each other. They’re standoffish. Not as personal. Or as loving and caring anymore.
What’s something that had to change because of the pandemic that you hope doesn’t change back once it’s over?
I hope that people understand that there’s no such thing as security. I hope it’s this sense of going after dreams, being your own individual person, going after what you want to do, and not letting “security” be the thing that holds you back.
That’s what I hope happens. That’s what I hope never changes. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
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