Okay, so my last piece may have been a bit harsh, but can you blame me? I had spent the four days prior, in isolation, struggling to accept the undisclosed number of future days that would be spent in the same manner––sound familiar? Fortunately, the past couple of days, sequestered in my home, coming to terms with reality, have given me time to clear my head (not that I had a choice). Here is the advice:
I am not the only one locked down in my house, unsure of what tomorrow will bring––we all are.
When we deviate from our path, something bigger is always present to remind us that we’ve wandered astray. COVID-19 is not just a deadly inconvenience, it’s God’s way of saying, “You’re headed for Shitsville, time to wake-up.”
The rapidity with which this event has swept our country can only be described as surreal: Panic-stricken people wearing masks, sanitizing their bodies incessantly, ravaging grocery shelves for cleaning products and non-perishables; somewhere, Stephen King is holding a pen.
As with any jarring event, an evaluation of the past follows, to determine what led to such naivety. If you partook in this reflection, I hope you found something similar to myself: Despite the world in the palm of our hands, we’ve never been more disconnected.
We are a species with short-term memory, in constant need of reminders. We have long forgotten the unity and pride we felt since the last time we were reminded, on 9/11/2001––we are stronger as one.
While loving thy neighbor should be the default setting, it’s understandable that we have allowed our egos to direct us towards self-interest, given we can’t leave our houses without gazing into someone else’s life. Constantly measuring ourselves against what we see on our screens, we’ve become defensive and competitive, never fully satisfied. COVID-19 is a reminder; a reminder that life is not zero-sum: you can win while helping others win as well.
Since writing my last piece, I’ve seen things that give me hope: the pedestrian in front of Whole Foods handing out sanitizing wipes for your cart; people letting others with less items go ahead of them in the check-out line. Nobody knows exactly what lies ahead, but one thing is not stopping––time. When things are going well, it’s easy to take for granted that our time is borrowed, spending it as we please. It isn’t until we are reminded, through tough times, inconvenience or otherwise, that we share this borrowed time, and that it can be snatched away from us just as quickly as it was given. Love thy neighbor.
And also, love thy family.
Without even realizing it, you took the first step in heeding God’s warning by using your phone for its intended purpose––to bring us closer––not as a distraction for your ego. During this first week of madness, you undoubtedly reached out to your loved ones to let them know that you’re scared, uncertain, and going a little insane––justifiably so. Don’t be ashamed, this vulnerability is essential. Very rarely do we speak our emotions aloud and honestly. Doing so reminds us of who we are and whether we’ve been true to our character or not. Through this vulnerability, we soften the hard, superficial shell we use in our everyday lives to get ahead. We must find this malleable state in order to grow, and growing is what will keep us sane during this bizarre time.
Life doesn’t usually issue pause and reset buttons, yet that is exactly what this virus has given us. We’re in the midst of a chance to rediscover ourselves, our families and our communities; a chance we squander if we spend this time binging Oreos and Netflix while praying for it all to be over.
My survival guide is this: kill your ego.
If you think you are going to get through this, distracting yourself with food and Instagram, you’re sadly mistaken. These things are welcomed when you need a break from a long workday, but with nowhere to go and alone with your thoughts, they serve only to make you aware of your ego and more broadly, your boredom. When your ego is displeased with your current situation, it tries to convince you to speed up time until it can once again, be properly stimulated (#anxiety). Since attempting to speed time is a losing battle, if this is your choice, you will struggle to make it to the end unscathed.
Fortunately, the solution is simple.
You’re no longer “too busy” to learn that skill you’ve always wanted to learn. You’ve exhausted your contact list, and have no more people to call and ask, “Isn’t this crazy?” Yes, it is. By sacrificing momentary appeasement of your ego for long-term, personal growth, you not only strengthen yourself as an individual, but fortify the machine as a whole (with plenty of time leftover to numb your mind). When it feels like your world is caving in, do something to remind yourself of the universal truth: we are all one.
So, the time has come to sign up for that online-writing course, develop a meditation practice, start brushing your teeth leftie… Learning something today is as easy as twiddling your thumbs––maybe easier.
You: “Alexa, I want to learn Spanish for free.”
Alexa: “I already downloaded an app to your phone because I know your thoughts before you do.”
You: “Thanks?”
It is unfortunate that lives must be lost in order for us to get back on track as a race; ensure those lives are not lost in vain, by rediscovering the essence of being alive: we are one. Grow the world by growing yourself and take a deep breath––this too shall pass.
