It is a good time to take stock in what is really meaningful in these times of uncertainty.  There is a bizarre suspension on “normalcy” today that is allowing us to take an inventory of our resources and to clean out the old and make room for what is truly valued. We are in the midst of an opportunity to connect to the practices that will enrich our lives and develop us as decent human beings.  This imposed pause has made room for me to tackle jobs that have been in the periphery, distracting me even while I focused on what “had” to be done. It has created space to be less hurried and more thoughtful in my approach to life and how I choose to prioritize tasks. Work – a necessary time suck, something I enjoy but have given more than considerable attention to, has drawn tremendously from my mental and physical energy. This construct for my life has been temporarily suspended and I feel an urgent need to focus this ironic gift of freedom on things that I might otherwise conveniently choose to put off until a “better” time. The uncertainty of when normal will return is the fire that is fueling my choices.  

So I will organize and cleanse, and strengthen – my home, my body, my mind, my relationships, my spirit.  I will seek creative responses and thoughtfully prepare. Prioritizing will be based on what intuitively feels right. This is a rehearsal of sorts for what I can enjoy in a few short years during my retirement should I choose to and should my fortune be so kind.   

During this period I am taking time to reach out to individuals who enjoy hearing from me and who I enjoy engaging with.  Reading books and learning something every day is a goal I have added. There is opportunity to try new recipes and foods. I  am seeking out better ways to do things that I take for granted and have always done. I am looking closely at my habits and routines and thinking about what makes life most enjoyable for me and my family.  Attending to details, looking closely at the hows and whys of everyday tasks, and appreciating the small things has been a part of my coronavirus experience. I am grateful for our continued good health, appreciate the need for being mindful of the health of those around me, and strive to act and behave in a thoughtful manner.

The stress of uncertainty is a perceived stress that we ironically allow ourselves to indulge in. Life is uncertain by nature.  The illusion is not uncertainty but our impression that routines and habits guarantee certainty. Uncertainty is the default setting for life  and while we can plan and prepare for expectations of the routine, the true gift is the uncertainty. Set aside the false notion that you are in control and opt to think and choose differently if you like. This pandemic has filled the world’s people with uncertainty; it is a wake up call! What will you choose?