Juma Mubarak (Blessed Friday) to all as we try to comprehend the sudden pandemic that we are faced with globally. All mosques have cancelled Friday prayers, as protecting lives takes precedence. All schools and libraries are closing. As the poster below shows, the world seems to be upside down. On a personal level, I experienced shock as one event after another was cancelled, including family events only. And then I was truly touched that my children and grandchildren were more worried about us, given our age group, than we were about them! I have never had an empty calendar; even when I left corporate America, I used to pride myself on how busy I was with family, social and voluntary groups and events!
Of course, for those with businesses and jobs, this is a time of utmost stress, and while we hope the government quickly enacts support measures, they need a ton of emotional support. With schools and libraries closing, what are young parents to do? What are young professionals to do with jobs that they commute to but may not be tele-commutable? What about those working in the healthcare field, who have to work and risk their own and their family’s lives every day? If we look at the economic cost, it sends us reeling into disbelief. I still remember the Crash of 1987 and its aftermath, as I had just transferred from American Express to Shearson Lehman Brothers, and within a day the world changed!
It took me a long time to take this seriously. We have to brace for a protracted tough period for God knows how long, and this is just the way it is. And while humanity has faced similar crisis before, this one is a sign for things to come as 7 Billion humans interact with each other and with animals in what Dr. Heymann calls the human/animal interface (see TED Talk – https://www.ted.com/talks/david_heymann_what_we_do_and_don_t_know_about_the_coronavirus?referrer=playlist-the_fight_against_viruses)
So I will pass on the advice I am giving to myself:
- Stay calm, be patient and do not panic- we are all in this together
- Practice social distancing – even if it is impossible for you to still (talking about myself for sure!) I actually offered to visit each of my four kids, but very nicely they declined and I appreciated their strength.
- Provide emotional support to family and friends virtually- thank God we have social media technology to do this. Especially reach out to those stuck in rehab centers or hospitals.
- Use the Self-Quarantine to tackle projects that you have avoided or ignored; for me it is writing projects, cleaning and organizing projects and of course continuing my fitness but outdoors only
- Use this newfound time to do some inner work and self-development; ponder how you are living your life, and see if this is an opportunity for reinvention or renewal
So, may we have the wisdom and patience to do the right things, and to think clearly about the impact of this pandemic. Maybe this breakdown will teach us to work together and learn compassion and empathy as human beings- we have all been lamenting the Age of Hate we are living in, so this may be the kick we needed? Maybe it will teach us to shun extreme materialism and live simpler lives- the Earth has been raped and pillaged enough, and this might help us slow down material progress? It all depends on how we seek the opportunity in this crisis, as the ancient Chinese sign says. The lessons we learn from this will transcend generations and decades and we can only hope that a better society emerges.
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