This all takes optimism, and courage. I don’t think any of us really knows how we will come out of this Pandemic in 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years from now. The reality is that life for all people changed overnight and will never be the same. We who have been labeled as essential services workers are thankful for still being employed and have (or feel) an obligation to continue serving our community. Those of us leaving the safety of our homes, leaving our school children behind to attend classes via internet and those unable to see our family members that we are isolating from, are all heroes. For it takes courage to leave our home, don our masks and give up the normal human contact we are accustomed to. However, courage can be short lived if not held strong with optimism as a foundation.
Those of you who know of my “Jamisms” have heard me say, “this too shall pass.” If you look at facebook or watch the news, you can see that humanity has stepped up and are doing major acts of kindness. Simple things like sending a note of hello to someone, sending door dash to a neighbor you know has been caregiving at home, just walking someone’s garbage can to their garage shows kindness. Do you have someone in your neighborhood that needs a grocery run or a dog walked? People want to help. So, if someone asks you if they can do something, give them something to do. People need to be needed. Good deeds reflect on the goodness of humanity. Kindness and goodness breeds optimism.
I have a challenge for you. Every morning when you start your day, look in the mirror and say what you are looking forward to when this Pandemic is over. Visualization is powerful. You must know and feel what you are looking forward to. When you open your courage up, know that it is still strong because your optimism has made it so. And “this too shall pass.”
We all have a story of what we have given up these past weeks going on months. Every morning I leave my daughter with the dog, at home to attend virtual school. This past month has left disappointments for so many High School Seniors. They have worked hard and want to celebrate. We are all ready to live outside of our cocoon again. Find a way to Celebrate. It will also help breed optimism. Optimism is the foundation of Courage.
