What This Current Pandemic Has Taught Me
And We Are Not Even Over The Hump Yet…
The Things We Take For Granted:
How easy is it for us to take things that we have or do, for granted. Perfect example, we wake up, eat breakfast, shower, brush our teeth, get dress and head out the door to work. We have all done this so much that it has become routine. When that routine gets disrupted, we find ourselves sort of out of “balance.”
Sure this country has seen difficult times. Both the Great Depression (1929–1939) and Spanish Flu (1918) were detrimental. Despite those strenuous times, we conquered, survived and eventually thrived as a nation. We are the “Greatest Country in the world” after all. What could ever possibly stop this country completely? (COVID-19 Enter Center-Stage.)
I realized how much I took for granted being able to go out and walk around the local park with family and friends. To be able to take a day trip to the beach and mingle with fellow beachgoers. I even took for granted being able to jump in my car with my golf clubs and head up to the course to play a few rounds with other members.
A Ripple Effect:
This pandemic has shown to affect multiple facets of our lives. Professionally, personally, emotionally, and mentally. There is a term to describe impacts like the one of this pandemic. It is known as the Ripple Effect. Per Wikipedia.org;
A ripple effect is a situation in which, like ripples expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it, an effect from an initial state can be followed outwards incrementally.
This pandemic, is the pebble that was dropped into the water. The ripples have grown exponentially since day one of its existence. Despite the Ripple Effect, we can slow down the wildfire that is COVID-19.
Social Distancing and Isolating:
Believe me, I am much more of an extrovert and prefer to be around others. I enjoy socializing. The transition from being around others to social distancing and isolating has been difficult to say the least. Despite these policies in place, I have decided to utilize my time to exercise more self-care and introspective activities.
I have been able to improve upon as well as find new coping skills/mechanisms during this pandemic. I may have not been able to do so if I was continuing with my current routine. Skills such as, writing, meditating, and critical thinking.
I find myself asking more existential and philosophical questions as well. If you have ever read Viktor Frankl’s Man Search For Meaning (I highly recommend reading his memoir.) His experiences influenced his mindset during his time in the concentration camps.
Through out his time in the camps he expressed how the mind is the only part of us that no one else can control or affect. I believe that his mental resilience is the epitome of how we should view this current pandemic. Despite being bombarded with “bad” news, we can choose to respond in a positive or constructive manner.
Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is the power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom. Viktor Frankl
As much as I would like everything to return to “normal” quickly. It will take some time to create a new normal. Until that day, I do have more emotional and mental tools at my disposal thanks to Social Distancing and Isolating.
Do Your Own Homework:
With multiple media sites competing for our attention to tell us the “biggest news”, it can be challenging to know for sure which one is the most reliable. As I mentioned in a past article, how do we the people realize what information is valid versus information that is not? Because of this it essentially leaves us to “comb” through multiple media claims and decide which is worth believing.
This not a bad thing. For me, it has made me more aware of my biases and automatic thinking. During this pandemic I have learned to question everything that is being claimed. I also began to look at other sources that I may not had considered in the past. Doing my own homework allows me to find both consistencies and inconsistencies among media platforms. I also will learn more when doing the work myself.
During this unprecedented time, there is so much that we cannot change about the situation. We can only strive to be the best versions of ourselves, help others when we can, and maintain a healthy perspective on the change that is coming. We will not only survive, we will conquer and thrive once again as a nation and as human beings.
Viktor Frankl had the right mindset.
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. Viktor Frankl
Peace, Love and Happiness my friends! I wish all my readers well, and stay safe.