This pandemic has changed us.
No matter what your stance on this
thing may be, there's no denying that. Some are locking themselves
in a bunker, hoarding bleach and toilet paper, some are staying home,
venturing out only for necessities under cover of face masks and
rubber gloves, some are stepping outside carefully for some sense of
normalcy, while some are ignoring all precaution in defiance of all
of those recommendations and thumbing their noses at all who choose the careful route. Whichever approach you choose, it's very clear that you
are not alone.
We're one world. No matter how many
borders or labels people wish to apply, none of it matters. Nature
doesn't see walls or skin color. Religion and language does not
apply here. HUMANITY is facing this. People are dying. People are
separated. People are finding themselves taking inventory of their
lives and evaluating and measuring importance of people and things
that have previously occupied their time and energy.
I would like to believe that I already
had a handle on those things. Previous challenges have tested that
in my life so I feel like I may have had a head start in this but there
certainly are no winners. My hope is that, on the other side of this
(and there will be an end), we will ALL see the world through new
lenses. We truly are all the same in this...simply human. May we
step forward with healthy bodies, open hearts, and open minds and
greet our brothers and sisters with warmth and respect.
OK, I get that I'm probably annoyingly
pollyanna. That's fine. I'll wear that badge happily. The reality
is that this situation has already forced us to do things
differently. We're already
adapting and shifting. Our creativity is shining. Our hearts
are connecting. Ingenuity is blossoming and walls are coming down in
spite of our hard-headed tendencies.
When schools across the country were
forced to close their doors, dedicated educators found a way to keep
engaging students. Lesson plans were quickly adapted to online
learning. Video chats allow kids to directly address the teachers
they know. Technology! A few weeks ago, I was complaining about the
time my kids spent wrapped up in phones and apps and saying that
technology was taking over their brains. Now, I'm embracing it.
Me! Embracing technology! Not only
are my kids “going to school” through their computers, they're
connecting in other ways, too. My 11 year old blackbelt is
continuing her classes and workouts because the Master figured out how to hold
classes via Zoom. My teenager can chat with her friends and stay
connected. My husband has video chatted with a group of high school
friends. Even I used
video chat for a job interview and stuck my toe in the
water with a video call with my own group of friends. Look at me!
Leaping forward in to the 21st century! Next, I think
I'll try to get my far away family to try this thing out.
One solid truth in life is that change
is inevitable. The way we deal with that is up to us. As with all
things, there are good and bad elements. I choose to welcome the
positive and shine my light on that so it can grow. I hope that
others will do the same. In this darkness, we've already found light
and seen beautiful things blossoming.
Keep shining. It's a whole
new world. Let's fill it with love and kindness.
