Buzzing, rushing, humming.
The noise fills my senses when I focus on it.
Overwhelming, almost.
When my attention is elsewhere the motor of the air purifier is practically silent.
Societal expectations are like that.
When I center them, parse out what they’re telling me,
I notice the heavy weight, the crushing responsibility and the un-winnable gamesmanship of it all.
If I’m not looking, I hardly notice.
The difference is,
the air purifier is meant to benefit me.
The expectations of society
are not.
