This too shall pass…

These past few months have been quite challenging, to say the least.

When I first heard of Covid-19, I didn’t quite know what to expect…

…I was concerned, but did not completely comprehend the extent of its effects.

 

Then, things got worse. It spread and affected hundreds, thousands – even millions worldwide with

heart-breakingly devastating results.

I became more anxious, even scared. I have Multiple Sclerosis and a compromised immune system, and am on ‘the list’ of people ‘most at risk’.

 

Around that time, I was also planning a trip to Kenya to visit family.

Instinctively, I felt that it was not the right thing to do and much to my relatives’ disappointment, I cancelled my trip. I thank the Universe for this insight.

 

I’ve had many thoughts during this period, and these are some of my ‘unanswered questions and unquestioned answers’:

 

v  Difficult times bring out the worst and the best in people. We have heard reports of the outpouring of kindness, restaurants offering free food, hotels offering free accommodations, government assistance, etc...

We have also heard of senseless greed, hoarding, over purchasing and violence.

Important values of Love, Kindness and Compassion, especially during difficult times like these, must not be forgotten.

We are all human and equal, regardless of race, culture, religious beliefs, occupation, social standing or orientation. Our ultimate purpose in life is to love, respect, assist, look out for and protect one another. We are all connected and something that affects one person has a direct effect on another.

Now if we could only make Love, Kindness and Compassion go viral!

 

v  The importance of family and loved ones - Not being able to see loved ones because of restrictions, being confined, and realizing that everything we’ve taken for granted like hugging, kissing, shaking hands, celebrating special occasions, congregational prayer, shopping, going to the movies, parks or beaches…have all come to a sudden end.  Life, as we knew it, has changed.

This imposed isolation has reiterated how much of life we have taken for granted…Our ties of love (be it friends or family), life itself, our luxuries, our needs and our freedoms…Everything has suddenly been ripped out of our grasp and we are reminded, in a hard and bitter way, that we need to cherish every bond, every act, every moment and every person, every day.

v  It is necessary to take inventory of our lives to decide what exactly we need…

Do we really need all the material possessions, designer clothes, electronic gizmos and bigger and better toys to make us feel worthwhile?

 

v  The imaginary geographical borders are of no significance. Covid-19 did not need a passport to cross borders. Why are we creating barriers between us?

 

v  Our lives and health are important and we have neglected them by making bad choices with poor hygiene, poor nutrition, consuming processed, sugar-filled, preserved foods and beverages, manufactured by greedy, profit-seeking corporations (who value the shelf-life of products more than human life) and poor lifestyle choices.

We need to pay more attention to our bodies to be of sound mind, body and spirit, to strengthen our immune systems in order to face such outbreaks.

 

v  The importance of solitude…Solitude for the mind and spirit is like resting and/or sleeping after an extremely tiresome task or day.

Solitude helps us connect with ourselves, and this period of forced isolation and quarantine has compelled us to spend time with ourselves. Why not make the most of it and reconnect with ourselves? This forced isolation can be a time of reflection and understanding, where we learn from mistakes, re-ignite passions, learn new hobbies, explore new options and find ourselves.  

 

v  The real heroes of our world are the people who have dedicated their lives to helping people such as doctors, nurses, care-workers, emergency response workers, truck drivers, people in the service industry, etc... They are indeed the true heroes of this world. Not the movie stars, sports stars or other celebrities whom we glorify and emulate.

 

v  Life is and will always be unpredictable with continuous challenges, and we (as a race, as communities and as individuals) constantly need to re-invent ourselves.

It is not our challenges that define us, but how we continue to live, survive and thrive …despite them.

 

v  History has shown us that our planet has faced a lot of turmoil with war, crime, corruption, ethnic cleansing, racial unrest, more war, vengeful acts of retribution, violence, unrest, disease, famine, natural disasters, more war, climate change, pollution, deforestation, even more war, the devastation of our unity with the resulting strife, discord…and the list can go on…

Mother Earth has suffered the ails of ‘inhumanity’ for a while now. She is calling out for a reform…for some change to occur.

This is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes, and make positive changes by putting an end to the hate and violence, to reunite as a people and regain the misplaced attributes of love, peace and harmony.

After every difficulty there will always be ease. Life is cyclical and this, as difficult as it is, is another difficult phase in the great cycle of existence.

 

v  No matter how great we think we are or how great others think we are, we are all fallible human beings. Behind all the stories, veiled in fogs of mystery, even under those masks of contempt, hatred and indignity, wherever we are, we are simple, enigmatic human beings…                            …men and women who live, shed blood and tears, recite well-rehearsed lines, remain steadfast to (fading) values and convictions, cherish ties of love and, one day, all die.

We can treat many diseases, prevent illness, even extend life, and as powerful we are with our knowledge and advances, we are just as powerless to prevent the inevitable…

If one could only free humanity from its shackles with a few magical strokes on the canvas of possibilities, to remove those illusory boundaries and veils of separation and fear… and recognize harmony from conflict, hope from despair, peace from turmoil and joy from despondency… …Even when the odds are against us, and the facts seem quite tenuous …

We cannot choose how we will die, but we can choose to be better human beings…

 

Inspiration: Within the past 14 years of my life, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, lost my business, moved to Nova Scotia, was involved in a car accident that put me in a wheelchair, lost loved ones and still somehow managed to survive. The unpredictable nature of my illness and life have enabled me to look at calamities objectively.

Human beings have the gift and ability of choice. We can choose to revel in despair, or we can choose strength, love and courage. We do not need a calamity in our lives to make us aware of that. We can learn from all that we go through to make better choices. Our challenges only help us grow.