4 minute read
Letter From the Editor
By Abby Meaux Conques
Eckhart Tolle
The world, our nation, our community, your inner circle, your household...every macrocosm and microcosm are reeling in the effects of the culmination of a mixed bag of emotionally-driven complexities of the human experience, with an uncontainable pathogen for on top.
It's funny, that as different as all of our situations and viewpoints are, even in complete situational isolation, you would be hard-pressed to find a human on earth that is not affected with the consequences of having an uncontrollable universal virus on their doorstep... whether you think it's absolutely nothing to worry about or the most burdensome thing you've had to deal with in your entire life. Add in all of the other man-made quandaries that we force on one another (consciously or obliviously), and there you have the trecherous, beautiful, difficult gift of being human. That alone should unite us.
These times are forcing us to move about the outer circle of what we consider our comfort zones. With discomfort comes growth. Growth can be in any direction, but change happens, nonetheless.
Perhaps the forced slowing down of society freed up mental space to take a serious look at other human atrocities. Those which we shouldn't shy away from or attempt to justify. Conversations...real conversations...are beginning to be had, arguments are being made, and tempers are flaring. People who have never spoken up are speaking out, and others are joining them in solidarity. Our outside world is forcing our inner worlds to be inspected, and this can have an amazing outcome, y'all.
I ask you, have you learned anything about yourself during these last three months? I have, thank goodness. Do you have a mental mark where you can pinpoint shifted perspectives? I do. I sincerely hope you do too.
I can't wait for the day we get to say, "Well, we made it through the major growth of 2020, so I'm pretty sure we'll make it through anything."
The most certain of all the things that I've learned in the past three months is how uncertain things are. I've found out that my Type-A, "research all the things and then prepare for the all things" way of thinking is not real. Sometimes you need to simply surrender; that doesn't mean to give up, either. Surrendering can be letting go of anxieties and living in the present moment. It can mean to surrender your rigid way of thinking and be open to hear other sides of life experiences.
Surrendering could mean freedom.
I think all calendar-loving Moms would agree that it's extremely hard to plan things these days. How long will we be in Phase II? What will the winter be like? Will kids be able to go back to school? Who knows. I don't. You don't. Experts don't. So surrender.
Surrendering frees me from the chains of worry. Surrendering allows me to truly be in a moment with my four-yearold dressed as a superhero. Surrendering lets me share sweet moments with my husband in the kitchen while he's cooking and having belly laughs instead of having anxiety of the other proverbial shoe dropping. It allows me to break down barriers within myself in order to listen to what others have on their hearts.
I don't have to know all the things. Even when I thought I knew all the things, life would show up and change my plans in a literal minute. I never had control, I had the illusion of control foolishly thinking some things to be constant: restaurants will always be open...sports will always happen...people should respect each other...life is precious for everyone cause everyone has someone to care about...it's like the rising and setting of the sun. Then enter 2020, stage left, to teach everyone a whole bunch.
The good news is that we're all human, and humans are resiliant; more resiliant than we think. In the midst of all the hate, all the suffering, all the injustice, the economic downturn, the virus... people still find reasons to smile. People have had no choice but to be creative in how to get their messages across. They've had to figure out ways to keep their trade relevant. Some have sat quietly to keep peace, but are now tired and chose to publicly stand up for injustices. People have learned to pivot business strategies, repurpose facilities, and have found ways to visit with family without being within 6 feet of them. They've found new ways to celebrate birthdays and welcome babies into the world and how to say final goodbyes to loved ones when no one else is allowed in the room. Is it easy? Heck no, it isn't easy, and it isn't meant to be. Welcome to the human experience. Let's not let all this potential growth be in vain and treat each other as we all are...human.
