Personal thoughts on today’s world.
It seems we wake up every day to a new level of danger. And let me say in the beginning, the threat is real and should be taken seriously. However, we should also, as humans who have at our knowledge the history of the resiliency of the human race available, not succumb to panic. Panic is the enemy brought about fear and fear is the emotion that can paralyze us physically, psychologically, and spiritually.
We have survived because we are resilient! This does not mean it is easy; it does mean it is doable. I would suggest the first step is stop, slow down, and breathe. Hit the Pause button and step back.
Breathe! Long deep breathes in and out. Connect with your body, your soul and your spirit. Focus on the beauty around you and the long list of things to be grateful for. We live in a county that can handle this situation because we are a country of not just survivors, but overcomers. Read our history! Whether it is the American Revolution, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, the long list of economic upheavals in our 200+ years, the depression, the conflicts and attacks (remember 9-11), we are stronger than this.
Get outside yourself! It is impossible to worry about your survival at the same time you are considering the impact of this crisis on those with less than you. Call a friend who may need groceries (or toilet paper….still don’t get this one), check on an elderly neighbor or relative, donate supplies to a food bank, GIVE!! In giving, the vast majority of us will find we have much more to be grateful for than most in the world today.
Be creative: Bake, draw, color, garden, build, paint, play an instrument, dance, find a new way to score a basket or throw a ball, sing to the radio, LIVE!
We all have talents (and they do not have to be judged to be enjoyed). Don’t worry if no one else thinks it’s great, it is for you. A way to express the highs and lows of this time.
And share these talents as you decide. We now are no longer bound by geography and physical walls. Experience what it is like to give and to share. Take a picture of a beautiful sunset you enjoyed and share with others. You are much more creative and giving than you know. Read a favorite book aloud to share with those around you. Enjoy the experiences of all of your senses…Smell the rain. Feel the wind. Touch the softness of a cuddly blanket. Taste, no savor, food and drink. See, really see the beauty in the world around us.
Maybe because we live such a fast-paced lifestyle, the pause button that is pressed can be seen as a positive to allow time to find our way back to who we are. Breathe and take care of yourself, your loved ones, your neighbors and your community. Take precautions but release the fear.
As Dr. Seuss says, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Choose peace!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear……