You all know the saying, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Many are doing this! Countless people are volunteering to deliver meals on wheels and food for students. Others are connecting with isolated seniors by phone. People are learning more about technology by doing on-line classes, group meditations and meetings. Many are working together to assess needs and find creative new ways to meet those needs.
Through all of these restrictions and changes, people are learning to slow down. They are going for more walks, as a family. They are thinking in new ways to reach out to others, recognizing the importance of putting people first. Others have pulled out their sewing machines and are making face masks. I would venture to guess that less people are focused on themselves now.
Some are taking this time to reassess where they want to put their energies. It is a perfect time to do this. With that in mind, I will toss some questions out for you to ruminate on, if you so choose.
What gift have you come into this lifetime with? Are you aware that you have one? Was there something you loved to do when you were younger that lit your soul and made you happy? Is there a way for you to return to that now as an adult? How did it make you feel when you were fully engaged in this activity? Have you been graced with an ability that others find challenging to do?
I invite you to notice what has fallen away, as a result of the current restrictions and what has come “front and center” in your life. Continue to observe, letting life inform you. There is wisdom in this process. Watch for gold nuggets and pearls; they will appear.
On the larger scale, the global population is seeing what happens to the quality of our air and water when businesses shut down and less people drive. I was thrilled to read on March 25, in The Guardian, that Inger Anderson, the Environmental Chief at the United Nations, realized that we need to listen to the Earth because she is speaking to us. She recognized that we need to take care of the Earth first, so we can take care of ourselves.
I pray that when restrictions are lifted, our lives become a brand new normal. I pray that decisions made from now on, everywhere on the globe, will be made with all the wisdom and knowledge we have acquired from our observations and experiences, correcting as many large and small scale errors as possible. I also hope that people continue their new healthy routines, including reaching out to isolated people and spending more time in nature. When we do this, we heal and honor the Earth at the same time. The Earth needs our continued support.
There are a lot of lemonade stands out there. As you partake, I invite you to feel the relentless resolve of our collective intentions. Let the illusion of fear fall away, tap into your inner strength and focus instead on our new united human family making responsible, long range, decisions to heal and protect the Earth, all of life and all of her inhabitants. Through the grace of God, we have been given another chance.