We are in unprecedented times. We are restrained in our movements, our physical contacts and activities. Everything is on hold, postponed or cancelled. It seems as though the world is slowly grinding to a halt.
I am convinced that this break in our lives was given to us with a purpose. Not necessarily a productive purpose, like learning a new language, or getting in great shape, but a purpose nonetheless. Maybe this is a time for you to connect with old friends. Maybe it’s a time to reset your sleep patterns. Maybe, as I’ve discovered, this break will change the clothing you feel you need or your daily shaving routine. I don’t believe there is anyone out there who hasn’t been looking for a timeout to reassess some piece of their life and make a change.
I have felt guilty about this line of thinking. “Should I be trying to thrive when people are getting sick and dying?” It seems wrong to benefit from circumstances that cause others misery. It seems wrong to be enjoying myself while others are risking their lives in hospitals.
My thinking recently is this: whether I sit at home, angrily twiddling my thumbs or making strides as an individual, this crisis will continue. Allowing it to overwhelm me, to pass me by without a plan in place to make the most of it, would be more selfish than taking advantage of the situation. We’re all going to return to a world that looks different in a lot of ways from the one we left over a month ago, and coming back with new tools, whether they be a stronger social network, a healthier mind, or a new banana bread recipe, will help us shape this new world in a positive way.
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Sun Tsu