As governments around the globe close borders and curtail transportation and gatherings, I am reminded of lyrics from a famous Streisand song. People who need people, are the luckiest people in the world.
In the Victorian age and earlier, castles had moats around them. As people moved closer together fences and walls divided households. We went further…barb wire, guard dogs and high tech security systems connected to police stations. In the name of terrorism we are subjected to screenings, searches, street cameras, and mass monitoring of our communications without specific warrants. If this isn’t enough, we also have the media being fed stories and imagery depicting people doing bad things who happen to dress, speak, and look a certain way.
Numerically, out of nearly eight billion, very few people can be called evil and intend to do us harm. Are we being deliberately lulled into believing the worst about people? Fear is our greatest enemy, not humanity. When we act based only on what is told to us, we risk diminishing our individuality and wisdom. We may bitch and moan about the world around us, or change our perspective and respond differently. Locked in a fear and survival state of mind we withdraw into a self-serving and protective mode where other people don’t matter.
One person buying up shopping cartloads of household and food products in the face of a community crisis is a perfect example of such selfish action.
My partner and I asked ourselves what move are we going to make as we assess the gravity of the current virus tragedy. What do we want and need? We have learned to react less, and to take time to respond. Of course sometimes our emotions intercede and we get frustrated and anxious. When an unexpected challenge confronts us, we know that’s a test. We try our best to face it realistically and calmly… improving on how we have chosen to respond.
There’s no question this is a mutated virus we have no immunity against. A “game changer” as it affects so much of the world.
It’s okay to feel out of sorts…even a little weird at times. The anxiety energy circulating around us is enormous and we feel it. I heard a wonderful bit of insight today. As others are acting out of fear, we may blame their behavior for showing their fear and vulnerability. If we can react at our level of love and calm, the anxious energy doesn’t bring us down.
Why not chose to characterize this health turmoil as a gift and a challenge? The patterns and routines we usually experience are interrupted, and some are disappearing. The unknown usually raises our fear level…it’s natural. The gift is an opportunity to have to slow down. We rarely experience this side of our busy lives. Some choices are open to us. We can elect to help others in need or go home and get grounded. Build up our immune system eating healthy, rest more than usual, and read those books on your shelf still unopened.
Staying socially connected with close friends and physically distant family is healthy…avoid the false-evidence news headlines. Employer mandated work-from-home is another gift to take advantage of. Time to work on an important relationship, start a meditation practice or write down what this experience feels like.
The Chinese culture must re-examine its unique dietary practices of maintaining and eating certain mammals. We, however, should remember, as the Yogi Sadhguru said recently regarding China, “Let us distinguish isolation from discrimination.” The Dalai Lama often remarks, “It is not the Chinese people who want to destroy my Tibetan culture, it is their government.”
It is a time for great compassion for those hurting and dying. Our world keeps getting smaller and smaller. Geographical boundaries are artificial and meaningless. It is one world, and we are a single species that must learn to respect all cultures.
