Day 29: 6 Weeks and Counting
This is maybe officially the new normal. Six weeks since school closed and it seems on one hand to be just the other day and on the other, it seems like forever ago. It's crazy anytime I think about the worldwide nature of this whole experience. There is no other event I can think of that comes close to affecting the whole world.
What even comes close to this reach? The World Cup? Maybe 2 billion watch the final. Some eclipse? Only a swath of the planet, and then only in sequential time. Even these events are one off, short duration occurrences. Nothing comes close to the scope of this shelter in place phenomenon impacting basically the whole world.
Since everyone is under similar limitations, I'm not sure my personal perspective has much to offer others. It's hard to really know what others are going through, since mostly I'm not interacting much with others. But from various sources (mostly podcasts and a little through calls and on-line meetings with individuals), I get the impression there are some common experiences for many.
One observation is that many people are doing okay. Maybe this is just keeping a good face but more so, I think many are realizing they are more resilient and capable than they may have thought. Appreciating even simple things, acceptance of that we cannot control, looking for the positive, noting the value of slowing down, being happy with what you have are all part of doing well even in these hard times.
Second, I think people find themselves more busy than they would have thought. I think many thought this forced seclusion would be a time to catch up on all these projects, develop new skills, or find other ways to fill their schedule. As my one of my Men in Blazers pod-buddies commented, he's doing a great job making lists of things to do and organizing those, although not completing anything on the lists:). I think the mental adjustments to this change in our circumstances takes up more space and time than we imagine, and just keeping spirits up and adjusting our lives takes time and energy and that is pretty much okay.
Third, apparently a lot of people are learning to slow down. Not feeling so compelled to cross items off your list, being okay with following your heart and head in the moment, taking time to cook and eat well or play games with housemates or whatever and appreciating that is good enough, appreciating little diversions like a campfire, eating fancy cheese for an afternoon snack, or walking in the woods, organizing the tool box--these can be high points in our limited surroundings. Interestingly, I just saw a report on the number of auto accidents dropping so much in the last month that it saved about $1 billion dollars in medical and other costs. There are probably a load of other savings from a slower pace that may have benefits we don't see now (on that note, I'm super curious about teens and sleep in this time of corona and if they are getting closer to what their body needs and what the effect of that is on their overall health and well-being).
Finally, there is an impressive outpouring of goodwill. Call in shows to public officials at the state level have more expressions of thanks that I've heard in the previous 50 or so years. Good news abounds on social media and beyond with heroic stories of essential workers amazing spirit, public expressions of appreciation, and all sorts of ways people are finding joy and sharing that with others. I hope you are as moved by and appreciative of these gestures as I am.
This reminds me of the words I have used to start the year at Compass: following the words of William Saroyan, “In the time of your life, live -- so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed. In the time of your life, live -- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”
What even comes close to this reach? The World Cup? Maybe 2 billion watch the final. Some eclipse? Only a swath of the planet, and then only in sequential time. Even these events are one off, short duration occurrences. Nothing comes close to the scope of this shelter in place phenomenon impacting basically the whole world.
Since everyone is under similar limitations, I'm not sure my personal perspective has much to offer others. It's hard to really know what others are going through, since mostly I'm not interacting much with others. But from various sources (mostly podcasts and a little through calls and on-line meetings with individuals), I get the impression there are some common experiences for many.
One observation is that many people are doing okay. Maybe this is just keeping a good face but more so, I think many are realizing they are more resilient and capable than they may have thought. Appreciating even simple things, acceptance of that we cannot control, looking for the positive, noting the value of slowing down, being happy with what you have are all part of doing well even in these hard times.
Second, I think people find themselves more busy than they would have thought. I think many thought this forced seclusion would be a time to catch up on all these projects, develop new skills, or find other ways to fill their schedule. As my one of my Men in Blazers pod-buddies commented, he's doing a great job making lists of things to do and organizing those, although not completing anything on the lists:). I think the mental adjustments to this change in our circumstances takes up more space and time than we imagine, and just keeping spirits up and adjusting our lives takes time and energy and that is pretty much okay.
Third, apparently a lot of people are learning to slow down. Not feeling so compelled to cross items off your list, being okay with following your heart and head in the moment, taking time to cook and eat well or play games with housemates or whatever and appreciating that is good enough, appreciating little diversions like a campfire, eating fancy cheese for an afternoon snack, or walking in the woods, organizing the tool box--these can be high points in our limited surroundings. Interestingly, I just saw a report on the number of auto accidents dropping so much in the last month that it saved about $1 billion dollars in medical and other costs. There are probably a load of other savings from a slower pace that may have benefits we don't see now (on that note, I'm super curious about teens and sleep in this time of corona and if they are getting closer to what their body needs and what the effect of that is on their overall health and well-being).
Finally, there is an impressive outpouring of goodwill. Call in shows to public officials at the state level have more expressions of thanks that I've heard in the previous 50 or so years. Good news abounds on social media and beyond with heroic stories of essential workers amazing spirit, public expressions of appreciation, and all sorts of ways people are finding joy and sharing that with others. I hope you are as moved by and appreciative of these gestures as I am.
This reminds me of the words I have used to start the year at Compass: following the words of William Saroyan, “In the time of your life, live -- so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed. In the time of your life, live -- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”
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