Debbie Vervoort - We've opened our eyes - Story of Ingrid Havermans

Eye: Ingrid Havermans
We've opened our eyes
Oil on wood
20x20cm

Story of Ingrid:

"My eyes opened in March 2020. In China, there was a lot to do around the C virus. It was far away from me, in China, everything happened anyway and that's why it didn't really worry me. however, when my youngest daughter no longer dared to fly to the Netherlands from abroad, it shocked me more. She was supposed to come home to celebrate her 21st birthday and she is usually quite down to earth. This would have been the last flight for a while....she had listened carefully to her intuition. From then on I became more vigilant.

Soon after that, the one-and-a-half meter measure was introduced at the risk of a hefty fine for violation. You were only allowed to enter that zone with someone else if you lived at the same address. That was a bridge too far for me. Our kids were already flying out and I was a caregiver for my parents. I really wasn't going to distance myself from that. Also, I realized the impact that if everyone really obeyed this measure, a very strange social community would arise, so that relationships could no longer be maintained and created. People would become physically impoverished. A comforting hug should no longer be allowed, a friendly greeting would no longer be possible.

When I made it known through a post on Facebook that I would respect everyone, that I would want to keep my distance, but that I preferred people to come closer. This cost me my first friendship. This shook me up even more. Then I also found out that in the event of an epidemic, the WHO was in charge, if you were a member of the country. So bye-bye democracy...

From that moment on I started to distance myself from the whole thing and created my own world with the people I felt good with and in the way that made me feel good. In my family, I am alone in it, especially since my parents passed away and because of this, I have also largely lost contact with my brothers and several relatives. In my family, it is an almost forbidden subject because there is a division.

I don't want my family to fall apart because of this. And luckily that goes well. We respect each other's points of view and we don't talk about it. My marriage had already ended before this time, so luckily I don't have to adjust to a relationship.

Through my behavior, I hope to be an example for my children.
In the meantime, I also live abroad, with my youngest daughter. When I was still in the Netherlands, I joined the demonstrations. That has also resulted in nice new contacts and deepening friendships with friends who feel the same way. So happy I don't feel alone. Grateful for the feeling of connection, because after all, we all have to do it together.

With the developments that are coming soon, we must continue to support each other in love, no matter how everyone thinks about it. Love is always the answer."

I am still looking for more eyes to paint, so are you interested in participating 👇🏼
https://www.debbievervoort.com/project-info