Wow!! I just came across a notebook with a page of scribbled and bulleted statements from the time spent during COVID. The opening statement, “What have you learned through this quarantine?”
This took me back to the time none of us will ever forget. It will forever be remembered in history books, the missed graduations, the loss of loved ones…It was like a cloud of fear came into our world as a whole. It was a heavy time for all. A time that no one will forget or minimize.
I will however, always remember how everyone dug deep within to find the best ways to deal with the situation, the world found so many good things that led to hope—People in various countries sharing their talents from balconies in Europe to roof top serenades that inspired and delighted. Tourist spots were empty but the silence of shared videos put to music was humbling and had its own beauty. Wildlife was wandering and nature was getting a needed break that brought healthy resolutions. People were encouraging, building, tipping, giving, helping those in need of solutions. Celebrities were using their fame for good. Buildings lit up with colors of support for healthcare workers. It was a time of turmoil, but also a time where the world felt like it had come together in a greater cause. In its own right it was truly amazing.
Sure, there were the tough things that came from this time too, but I want to focus on the beauty that unfolded.
Let that be the focus today. How can we remember the resilience?
Here is the definition of resilience: the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
I think in looking back on that period of time the real resilience was led by HOPE and CONNECTION. Everyone was in the same boat of difficulty, experiencing real-time, life-changing situations. The news had the daily death tolls, but the world was also contributing to the news with their own versions of HOPE and CONNECTION. The world was on a stage all together. So much strength came from seeing how other people, families, other countries were coping and how they were finding resilience in the storm. We all had to face the fears together. We all had to face circumstances together. On a world scale. It was humbling. It was connecting. It was pretty incredible in some crazy, twisted way.
The world seemed to shift in some ways. I know the US had families finding more balance than they had experienced in years. Families were getting outside TOGETHER, they were playing games, they were crafting, they were watching television series…all together because that is where they had to be. They had to connect. They had a greater opportunity to connect. Even though it was hard in some ways. smile. smile. [I know I had a few sisters complaining that they were ready for their kids to go back to school—eagerly waiting for the day] it connected families, created a space and opportunity for them to become stronger and to grow through the experience together. You only HOPE that families look back on that time with a greater sense of appreciation and see it as a valued year of their lives.
It was fun to find this paper that took me back to that time…to read the below bullets. To remember. It was a precious time for our family. Life is like that. It goes by so quickly, so we strive to always remember to make memories, spend extra money to invest in experiences together and make life happen with greater connection!!
The bullets listed with each of my families names beside the bullets.
JON:
Life is precious. Jon looks at stats every day and sees the numbers of loss daily. He said, “We are all in this together, young and old. Who should be saved? It is crazy.”
Be prepared. I love seeing the outpouring and support to others in need. People need it.
I ask, “What have you learned to appreciate?” His response: The power of connectivity—love all the group texts of support, the social media messages that are so positive. It has been very powerful. Being home with family. Fun banter with extended family. The deeper connections and conversations. Sleeping in. The late nights together.
KATE:
“What have you missed?” My job and everything about it. [At the time our daughter was working at a really cool aquarium and was missing the camaraderie of her team, the animals, the environment…everything.]
She said, “Our life hasn’t changed that much for us besides more connection and family time & I love that.” [Kate was already doing an online school, so her schooling didn’t change]
“What have you enjoyed?” Quiet time, doing puzzles, relaxing at night, family walks, seeing so many people outside. [Our family was always in the habit of spending lots of time outside, but it was a huge number of people who seemed to come out of nowhere. It was refreshing to see families outside together]. Kate loved our family time together watching shows like Zoey’s Extraordinary Play list, playing classic games like Clue and Battleship, watching Survivor, having her Dad home with us, just a great break all together as a family.
HEATHER:
Great opportunity to learn new things. I pulled out a big drum and would have drum time. My little family would laugh at me and my crazy songs and mantras I would sing. I loved seeing people spread love wherever they could [painted rocks along trails, window art with inspired messages, kids doing chalk messages on walkways] good news stories, videos that inspired, having something to connect with others about when we would see people outside, perspectives, going outside even more–we love our family walks. Loved seeing the funny talk shows done from home in pajamas. Loved seeing musicians and celebs using their power for good things.
SOOO LOVED all the resilience and positive news from around the globe…ie: China sending face masks to Italy with a message and blessing, “We are all from the same tree.” Beautiful. Italians sharing songs and music from balconies. The world connected and sharing the best it has to offer. So many great stories of hope.
Also loved “Good News” by MSN, Disney donating food, big companies like Amazon giving to help, Animals wandering the zoos and aquariums, the big tips given to help people stay afloat in hard times.
Here is one of my blog posts from that time & I was adding some of the good things I found that were being shared, posted…its a fun reminder of the resilience of that time. enJOY! https://yourhappyplaceblog.com/2020/03/20/looking-for-the-good-in-all-this/
Another one of my favorites from that period of time…beautiful song and images. enJOY…worth the watch [sorry it won’t add image link] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaTKxCvTJos
Though, we are still trying to find our own resilience in these times of ongoing challenge…trying to navigate the world with the new health issues, to wear or not to wear masks, to find ways to stay healthy, etc. I hope we can look back on that precious time and see some of the good that came from it. I hope you seek to see the resilience in those great examples of people living with such strength. There were stories everywhere of such greatness. It was powerful time in its own way.
My hope for you today: I HOPE you can sit down (if you haven’t) and think back, ponder on that time and write down your own list of things you remember. Things you can take away. Moments of resilience that stand out for you. Our voices are important for a time in our history that will last the tales of time. So, make sure you take the time to share your stories, your perspective, your memories with those you love.
Have a blessed and beautiful day. Peace, Love and Light to you. xoxo
I just watched a Super Soul Sunday with Oprah interviewing Sue Monk Kidd and wanted to share a few of my highlights from it. Enjoy!
“The attention of the heart is truly what prayer is.” I liked this thought because you can see how true it is. If you find wonder in the symmetry of leaves or the shadows of a tree, you can get lost in the lines of nature and become calm. OR, you can get lost in the attention of the world and not find peace, but noise and distraction. Where you place your attention does matter.
“We are always seeking a place of belonging.” I could relate to this thought because so much of my life was spent in a religion that is very tribe like. When I decided to seek my own path, it has been my path that I have had to find my own sense of personal belonging and freedom. I have not had to place my beliefs or my place in the hands of others. It is my space. My place.
“Something that brings us alive, pay attention to that.” We are all seekers of things that make us come alive, that fill us with excitement, that give us that sense of wholeness and purpose. When you begin to learn something new, to find a new direction, there is something that comes alive within us and and we want more.
“There is no place so awake and alive as the edge of becoming.” I think we can all relate to this thought because we have had moments, inspiration, thrill as we stand on the edge of an idea, a dream, a newness, a becoming. You feel so alive!
“Listen to the yearning within.” I think we all need to get to that point where we truly listen within and wait patiently for direction, answers, inspiration and have a faith that we will begin to hear the yearnings of our heart.
“Ask for the thing that lies at the bottom of your heart.” I think as we begin to truly listen within, we will get deeper and deeper to the true knowing that lies at the bottom of our hearts. We have deeply innate knowing of a greater divineness that is held deeply within our hearts. It is the greatest gift, if we can learn to unbury it.
“Who am I?” Oprah shared how she was asked to answer this question and it took her a few days to really take it in and answer—NOT the labels she has or the labels the world has given her. Sue then shared a similar experience—all the labels of the external self vs the TRUE inner self. She said, ‘maybe that is the point to life, to discover that part, to align with it, become more a part of it.”
“Always seek, but always acknowledge when you find something.” This was a very true point for me. I have been a seeker for most of my life & I hear this thought & know I have not taken the appropriate time to say THANK YOU for the many gifts I have been able to Seek & Find. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
She quoted William Wordsworth saying we need “spots of time” to remember we are holy, this is divine. I like the idea of having “spots of time” throughout your day to get quiet, to remember the holy reverence that is life.
“We truly become what we pay attention to. If we pay attention to our fears, worries…that becomes our life.” This is a good reminder for all of us to pay attention to what you truly pay attention to. Are your days filled with worry and regret? or are your days filled with gratitude and love? Listen to the words you say, the thoughts you think and what energy you are putting out into the world. We truly do affect our lives & those around us. What are you focusing on?
Oprah then did a Q&A:
yourhappyplaceblog 