You Can’t Know Everything

Summary

The article discusses personal growth and adaptability during the pandemic, emphasizing that while one cannot know everything, learning and making the best of the situation is crucial for an optimal life.

Abstract

The author shares a conversation with a friend who feels constrained by the pandemic, using it as a springboard to discuss the importance of personal responsibility and continuous learning. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, such as the closure of gyms and restaurants, the author argues that these should not serve as excuses for inaction. Instead, the author suggests cooking at home, using online resources for recipes, and engaging in basic exercises like walking or running. The article also touches on maintaining a social life through virtual means and encourages readers to embrace the freedom to choose their responses to difficult situations, advocating for the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement amidst adversity.

Opinions

The author believes that making excuses for not pursuing personal goals during the pandemic is counterproductive.
Cooking at home is presented as a preferable alternative to unhealthy take-out, with resources like Allrecipes and Food Wishes on YouTube recommended for guidance.
Regular exercise is encouraged through simple activities such as walking or running, with programs like Power Walking and Couch-to-5K mentioned as helpful resources.
The author supports the idea of virtual dating as a viable alternative to in-person interactions during the pandemic.
Emphasizing the teachings of Viktor E. Frankl, the author suggests that individuals always have the freedom to choose their attitude and actions in response to challenging circumstances.
The author promotes the idea of continuous learning and self-improvement, suggesting that readers should use this time to acquire new skills and knowledge that will benefit them beyond the pandemic.

But You Can Learn Something

I was FaceTiming with a friend recently, and she was bored being stuck at home during the pandemic. The office where she worked had long been closed due to the pandemic. All of the employees were working from home. It was nothing out of the ordinary as this unfortunate situation has affected many. Thankfully, she was still employed and receiving full pay.

During our conversation, I noticed an unfortunate trend in what she was saying about various topics. She’d mentioned not being able to eat healthy because where she used to go to lunch was closed, so now she can only get unhealthy take-out. Her gym was closed, so she can no longer exercise. Though single and previously having a reasonably active dating life, she couldn’t do that anymore as she didn’t want to catch COVID-19. All my ears heard were one excuse after another as to why she wasn’t able to do the things she’d previously been able to do.

Now, this was a close friend, and we’ve had a long relationship, so I knew I needed to be kind but also had the credits to be frank and a bit bold. I told her, “I understand this has been a real challenge for you and won’t pretend, but it seems you’ve reasoned a whole lot of excuses for everything. Frankly, those excuses aren’t serving you and are only allowing you not to do what you logically need to be doing.”

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

― Viktor E. Frankl,

She quickly replied, “I don’t know how to cook, I don’t know how to exercise, and I don’t know how to date without being in person. You can’t know everything.” Okay, she was right; none of us can know or need to know everything. But all of us do know something, and what we don’t know, we can learn.

Here is my advice to her, and it may also serve you.

As far as eating healthy goes, it’s always the best and most economical to cook for yourself. Yes, it’s a chore, but you probably have time if you’re working from home. Even if you’re not, it’s still the best option. You’ll never get any Michelin Stars as a home cook, so you don’t need to be a master chef, just adequate. Decide what food you like, and one of my favorite websites for recipes is Allrecipes. I also enjoy watching Chef John from Food Wishes on YouTube as there’s something in his voice inflexion that always makes me chuckle. Plus, his recipes are never complicated.

For exercise, you can’t get more basic than walking or even running. Should you not be as adept at either of these, there are a whole lot of articles you can search for that will teach Power Walking or if you want to kick it up a notch, check out Couch-to-5K. Pre-pandemic I had a membership to OrangeTheory Fitness. While OTF has their studios open now, I’m waiting until next year before returning in person. In the meantime, they produce a daily YouTube program that I follow at home.

Another single friend of mine is still dating via video using Zoom, Facebook, and GoogleDuo, so there are still options. In life, there are always options. We may not think the possibilities are optimal, but that doesn’t diminish the fact we still have choices. Even if you can’t know everything.

Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.

― Victor Frankl

It’s important to understand that I love my friend, and I can empathize with her feeling a bit down due to this unexpected and beyond-our-control pandemic. While we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose our response to it. I’m not sure if she’ll take my advice or not, but I will keep encouraging her as well as you.

Lastly…

Just because you can’t know everything doesn’t allow you an excuse for not learning something. Learn new skills and improve on things in your life that you already know. Increase your level of expertise such that your cooking skills get a boost. Read or watch a video on how to exercise and if you’re still interested in dating, be thankful for technology that will allow you to do so. What you do know will benefit you in the future when we’ve all passed through this pandemic. Now that’s something even I know.

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The Optimal Life, It’s Not Perfect, Just Better!