Unprecedented, uncharted, unnerving, scary, challenging, hard, these are all words that come to mind as we discuss what we are experiencing through this pandemic and they are all accurate. There is angst and anxiety but the most powerful part of this process is the opportunity. The opportunity to assess what is essential in our lives, what is important for our families, new ways to interact and old ways to connect. There is an opportunity to think about how we approach education, how we work and where we work, how we go about our day to day lives and to reconnect to the basics of living and family. Hopefully folks who are with their families are actually having family meals, sharing family stories, getting to know each other like really know our spouses, our children, our siblings our grandparents. That we are taking advantage of these moments to actually look in their eyes and see their souls and feel their spirit. Taking the time to hear their dreams planned or past, their loves and their worries. Most of all through social distancing we are learning how to communicate with our community. I know it sounds like an oxymoron but here is the thing, the thing uniting our communities and our families is something that can truly hurt us if we don't unite. It is not specific to a political party or a race, creed, gender, socio economic group. It doesn't care if you are a movie star, clinician or store clerk; straight or gay. It doesn't care what continent you come from. It does not discriminate. And that factor is the thread that weaves through all of us. Giving us all something that connects us from the most granular level to the broadest level. And, what has been made clear by this common factor is If we don't commit to each other by staying in place, If we don't commit to (well basic) hygiene like washing your hands, taking your shoes off when you come in the house, giving people their personal space it will get the best of us. All this to say there are many layers of silver linings in this black cloud. Find yours. Grab on to it and nurture it. The biggest waste would be us not learning anything or changing anything as a result of this crisis.
In the words of our elders - wash your hands, don't pick your nose, wipe your feet and by all means keep your hands out your face. Stay safe people. I know we can do this. KWE.
In the words of our elders - wash your hands, don't pick your nose, wipe your feet and by all means keep your hands out your face. Stay safe people. I know we can do this. KWE.
