To Be or Not to Be

Now that’s a question we need to ask ourselves today.

In this day and age, where everything seems bleak and scary, a quote from Wangari Mathai comes to mind. “No matter how dark the cloud, there is always a thin, silver lining, and that is what we must look for. The silver lining will come, if not to us then to next generation or the generation after that. And maybe with that generation the lining will no longer be thin.”

I see and hear a lot of people complain about having to work from home or home school their children over the next few weeks/months. Well, change is always difficult isn’t it? Bear in mind, it’s only here to stay. The sooner we learn to embrace it and move on, the better it is for our own sanity and mental well-being.

At this time when an infectious microorganism has created so much anxiety and uncertainty, we seem to miss out on the silver lining in the dark cloud. We can sit and whine all we want or find the light without waiting for the end of the tunnel. The choice is ours.

From chirpier birds to clearer waters and happy marine beings, the world around us is witnessing lesser pollution and a massive reduction in our carbon footprint thanks to all the travel ban.

Haven’t you noticed an exponential increase in the focus on personal hygiene lately or a surge in your communication with family and friends on their safety?

• Increased productivity, reduced travel time and more face time with children and/or four legged friends in the name of telecommuting;
• Accelerated evolution to how we learn and work in a virtual world, 
• Zero outdoor recreation translating to lesser spending,
• More exercise for your grey cells to come up with creative alternatives to keep your kids engaged.

This certainly is not an exhaustive list but as Helen Keller said “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

I hope that most, if not all of the positive consequences, continue to stay even after the storm passes. Until then let’s not frown at the dark clouds and heavy rains. Seize the opportunity, stay calm and learn to dance in the rain. The outcome will help us emerge as resilient and responsible humans.

Carpe Diem…

My heart goes out to all those affected in these trying times and wishes to those fighting to stay afloat in the face of adversity. It’s the right time to pause and recognize the efforts of those going above and beyond to keep us all safe.

Though a herculean task, working from home has given me the opportunity to feed my soul with more physical time with my children.

So how about you? What are you thankful for today?