Having been home for two weeks after an awesome, thrilling, and healing whirlwind trip to the Philippines – and barely making it back home before the countrywide lockdowns and travel bans, I feel nothing but blessed and grateful to be happy and comfortable, surrounded by a great support team who have become more like family to me.
Yes, we are a bit on edge like everyone is by the uncertainty of the near future, but we are taking it all in stride and attempting to always find a reason to smile or laugh.
I’m writing this from under a starlit sky on the patio of my dad’s place in the southern part of the US – listening to the crickets chirp and the frogs do whatever that frogs do. However, I was not always this content or comfortable in my life.
In fact, I have been through experiences in the past decade that have had me in much more fear for my life than this pandemic ever could. I have been pontificating on how I can help and do my part.
Aside from my career, I have spent much of the past decade on the go, always trying to go where I’m treated best, most recently moving from Connecticut to Tennessee.
Even the trip to Manila last month was centered around experiencing how I- and others in a similar situation- would be treated as a human, as an employer, and most importantly, as someone who’s life depends on the kindness of others.
I plan to bring you on the journey with me throughout the year, but for now, I would like to invite you to think about putting others first through this crisis – while following health guidelines of course!
And while those guidelines will save lives, I would like to offer up a few other guidelines that are just as important :
Be kind and more gentle to all of those around you. That fight or being right on petty stuff just isn’t worth it. Training yourself to be less aggressive will not only improve your health and make you a happier person in the long run, it will make the world a better place. And if you are touched or offended by this guideline, you most likely have the greatest power to do just that. You have the world in your hands – please help in making this a kinder place filled with more gentleness, happiness, and peace.
Check-in often on those who depend on – and at the mercy of – others ;as well as those who may be living with narcissists, sociopaths, psychopaths, those who are controlling or tend to take advantage of others. Lockdowns are breeding grounds for abuse. Be sure to especially check in on those who have no escape and those without much of a voice. They need us most, and often – so please be sure to remember them and anything you can do to make them smile and feel loved will work wonders.
Know your escape options. If you are reading this and in fear of someone more than the virus – or catch yourself wishing to contract the virus as an escape, this may be your time to run. No lockdown or virus should ever stop you from getting somewhere safe and out of harm’s way . I know too well how scary it is to feel isolated and trapped. Use this as your opportunity to throw caution to the wind and go for a fresh start.
I have traded sounds of slamming doors, crashing dinnerware, and angry people viciously barking at me for sounds of crickets, frogs playing, and housemates that gently hum random pop songs that make my heart smile out of my chest! So please scroll up, stare into my eyes for five seconds, then come back.
If I can do this, so can you. As someone who has a severe disability, you already have an awesome advantage. And most likely, you’re stronger than I am. You’ve got this ♥
We all in this together as one human race – and we will beat by using the greatest power of all time – love.
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