By Mary Layton
New Energy
I have been busy lately, the days go by so fast and some days I forgot if I’ve eaten. There’s so much to do, projects, daily chores, organizing, reorganizing, helping friends move, out of the old and in with the new. I seem to be in perpetual motion.
I’ve been reflecting on my mortality more than before. And it has actually had a very positive effect on me. With life more fragile due to our present situation, is it possible something has shifted in our brains and behaviors? Maybe it’s the thought: It’s now or never. We might as well take on life all the way before it’s too late! No holding back. Maybe it’s time to realize a dream and really do something about it. Put out the energy and do the best you can. Talking to a few of my friends I keep hearing people are on the move, reinventing themselves where possible, seizing opportunities that didn’t exist before the pandemic.
If I imagine my world from above it looks like a giant anthill with all of us scrambling to find order in a life that has been severely disrupted and shaken to the core by a tiny, invisible virus. New energy, new ways of living have sprouted. Many of us do their work from home now, which has resulted in improving our houses as best we can. I believe there is an opportunity in the difficulty that we are currently faced with. And that is to learn that our survival actually depends on our ability to work together and develop compassion to understand the struggles and challenges of others. We need to think of the greater good, as opposed to just following our now desires and interests. This is essential to more than just survival; it is paramount to our own humanity.
I find myself grateful for the home I have in a way I never felt before and I’m grateful for the water that still flows out of the shower and faucet. The sun is still shining on us. I give thanks to all that is in my life: family, friends, my work, my cat, the neighbors and sometimes a helpful stranger. It has brought me much joy and hope. Faith has a lot to do with my ability to “stay calm and carry on”. As Victor Hugo puts it “Have courage for the great losses of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.”
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