There will be arguments.
Disagreements. Misunderstandings.
And above all, loss of friendships and relationships during this time.
You will say angry things to people you love.
And they will do the same.
But it is the fear and grief that is really speaking.
There will be lots of swearing. Aggression. Impatience.
And lots of self knowledge will be acquired during this time.
It will be as if we all went to one of those silent retreat places to understand our own minds. Only we never left our home and it was free of charge.
But here’s the good news about this pandemic.
There are millions of kind people running around helping others, right this very moment.
I have seen leaders walk away from their old comfy chairs in their big glass offices, roll up their sleeves and get to work.
I have chills when I think of them.
I never knew their names or faces before.
I also didn’t know there were politicians who cared this much.
I have loved watching the Governor of New York take charge and giving everyone who is not helping, hell.
It’s not only in his actions that I see he cares, it is actually something else.
Something in his voice.
In the gentleness of how he talks. Off script. Deprived of sleep.
And yet he still speaks to us as if we are his family.
He gives time, even though he doesn’t have much time to give. And I am ashamed to say I didn’t even know who the governor of New York was before these last few days.
But now I certainly do, and for the right reasons.
Another thing that touched my heart has been how Governor Newsom is trying to help provide shelter for all the homeless.
There are at least 25,000 homeless in California and all of them will have a bed to sleep in soon.
There is this concrete level of kind responsibility everywhere you look.
Well, maybe not everywhere but in many corners of the world.
To the good neighbors who make sure the older folks get what they need to stay self isolated.
To the loving emails teachers are sending to all their students who are now being taught online.
You can see from their emails, these teachers miss their students.
And of course last but not least the true superheroes, doctors, nurses, and grocery store workers. It is evident that the human species is made of a very kind DNA.
Mr. Rogers would have been proud.
His most memorable words ring true during this unprecedented time.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
They are indeed everywhere.
And because there are so many we will all get the help we need.
There is an amazing group that has come together called Intellihelp that is helping thousands of people.
If you need a can of soup or diapers for your newborn, even toilet paper has been given to anyone who needed it.
Go join that group.
And last but not least for those of you who feel they are not getting the help they need, reach out, ask for help.
Join the groups that are helping, seek the leaders with their sleeves rolled up.
If someone is unkind to you, call them out.
We don’t tolerate this behavior anymore.
They are the outsiders and outcasts of our modern times. (Click to tweet!)
With awe,
Christina
P.S. We are having a virtual pizza night tonight for connection and Life Reentry here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifereentryc19
