Young people across America are “pranking” older, smaller ladies by strutting and standing real close without masks in store lines, hurling curses & insults, while their friends video the encounter. When this happened to me, I followed my one love/peace philosophy, left my food in the cart and walked out the grocery store, willing myself to take deep masked breaths until I calmed down. Later, when I saw a viral Instagram video where a woman pulled a pistol on a dude 3 times her size after he cut the line, cursed her and slammed a 12 pack of beer on the counter demanding to be served first so he could go to a party, I realized my experience was not an isolated incident. “Pranking” is the dangerous new fad youth are doing during this corona virus pandemic for fun.
What kind of society are we living in where people will do anything, risking their lives, to go viral? I can think of so many better, safer ways to have a good time: dance competitions, free style hip hop, poetry, reaction videos to beloved cartoons crack me up, cooking challenge videos… Let your imagination run wild.
When I wrote “Smile”, my first single in 2012, I never imagined we would be living in a “lockdown” with a virus causing a world wide pandemic. We need the uplifting, positive “Smile” lyrics more today than ever before because of all the stress, grief and uncertainty.
“Life has it’s ups and downs
We have a choice to smile or frown
Money maybe funny
Smile, it’s free
I choose to be sunny.
I smile, no one can steal my joy
Smile, like a kid with a new toy…”
One Love…
Aria