anewthreshold.org

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that COVID – 19 was officially a global pandemic and overnight, our world, the way we do this life, radically shifted. As the Public Health Agency of Canada worked to inform and prevent the virus spreading like an uncontrolled wildfire, businesses closed doors, workers were urged to work from home if they can, and social distancing became our new norm. Whether you are standing in line at the grocery store or greeting a neighbor in passing, if there is not at least 6 feet between you, then you are too close. For those of us who are huggers, well, just – no! No hugs, no fist bumps and no high fives; our social responsibility is to isolate and social distance ourselves as a preventative measure. 

We don’t know what tomorrow will bring and while I am thankful that Dr. Bonnie Henry and her team are working hard to flatten the curve, it is inevitable that COVID-19 will breach security and run amok in our city until it runs out of steam. We each have to do our part to minimize the impact it will have.

While predicting the future has always been subject to free will and random acts of “unknown” influences, it is hard to even imagine what life after the virus is going to look like. There are no solid anchors to grasp; we are living in unprecedented times. Each day, we wake up and watch in slow motion as the viral tsunami creeps closer while looking for cracks in the foundation where it can take hold. Thankfully, Canada has taken an aggressive stance on COVID-19 and are monitoring it closely; I am grateful for all the proactive measures in place.

So here I sit at home alone watching the world from my computer screen and taking in the view from my window. Across the street, the mall parking lot is bare in comparison to a week ago when panic buying left grocery store shelves decimated. I know I am not the only one feeling that everything is surreal right now. Hollywood has often played out these scenarios; now real life is paralleling the bigger than life world of fantasy.

Was it only a week ago that I was making plans for the families I work with and happily mingling with my co-workers?  While I have always been quite content in my own company, I do miss having the option of the company of humans from time to time. Living in a building where many of the residents are elderly, I feel even more compelled to isolate so as to not put them more at risk. My grandchildren are at home with their parents and they are safe. I enjoy time with the grandchildren but now I wonder if seeing them poses a risk to my building? Who could have guessed that one day, leaving the house could result in an ethical dilemma?

The silence of isolation can be deafening when you live alone.  You run the danger of believing everything you think with nobody around to reality check with you. The practice here is to recognize that overthinking is unproductive.  Optimism and positivity are still available and beneficial. I am enjoying the posts on social media that are celebrating some of the up sides to the world slowing down. 

For today, for now, for this moment…I choose to focus on only that which I can control. I have food, shelter and relatively good health. We are all in this together and we will find our way through it.

In love and gratitude…..

May you and your loved ones be well and be safe.

Peace

Hope is the Thing With Feathers

“Hope” is the thing with feathers — 

That perches in the soul — 

And sings the tune without the words —

And never stops — at all —

And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard — 

And sore must be the storm —

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm —

I’ve heard it in the chillest land — 

And on the strangest Sea —

Yet — never — in Extremity,

It asked a crumb — of Me.

By Emily Dickinson