Coronaversary - Reflections From One Year Later
Wishing you a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We start approaching spring and this quintessential Irish holiday. As most Irish, this heritage runs deep for myself. Springtime is upon us and as we have just had another round of snow, spring can seem quite a bit away. The time change will soon be upon us and we will have longer, brighter days ahead. As we have just hit the one year milestone for many pandemic major events, it does feel like we have just had a year that felt like 15. It feels as though we have been running an emotional and physical marathon. But what have we learned? How do we make some sense of this world we barely recognize? After some reflection, here are the lessons I came up with….
1.) Patience is one of our greatest skills.
It can be one of the most difficult attributes to put into practice, however, it is one of the most valuable skills to nurture and grow.
2.) Having a kind heart can be the hardest thing to remember in hard times, but its value is beyond measure.
We have seen a time we never thought possible. The devastation and the numbers of people lost are unfathomable. We are pushing through the other side, not quite sure what has happened. But if we can all remember to just be a little softer, a little lighter and a little kinder, we are able to provide the support others need to be inspired and feel supported.
3.) Is there really a reason we can’t wear yoga pants and scrubs everyday, for every event… ever?
Need I say more? And what do you do with the closet full of clothes left untouched for over a year! Just how long do we keep those, I wonder?
4.) Hugs have a higher value than gold.
I have heard so much about hugs from many of you this week. With the vaccine reaching more and more people, it seems to be one of the highlights that most are looking forward to!
5.) Never hesitate to let someone know how much you care for them.
Life is short. As a practicing Buddhist for over 25 years, reflecting on the impermanence of life is standard. However, I’ve never seen a time in my life where so many people have been faced with so much fear, illness and devastation. I don’t think any of us could have ever imagined seeing the last year in our lifetime. But, it does give us the tremendous opportunity to appreciate the family and friends and even strangers we all see, every day. Day in and day out I appreciate all of you and thank you for being a part of my world.
“May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future” –Old Irish Blessing