Navigating Waters & Uncertainty

Navigating Waters & Uncertainty

By Ashley M. Martin

“Nobody told us about the pandemic”, was the headline for a news story I recently saw online. In my mind, I immediately thought, how do you not know about what’s going on? My thoughts continued, “you have to be on a remote island, on the moon, or sailing away to not know what is currently shaking the world as we know it.” I kept reading and there it was - a couple was traveling on a yacht and was not aware of COVID-19. They opted for not receiving bad news and did not find out until they were approaching the Caribbean (Source: BBC News, April 21, 2020). I could only imagine the emotion or surprise they experienced. They found out that they may not be able to get back on land. Secondly, their hometown was one of the places hardest hit by COVID cases. Navigating the waters probably seemed like an easy thing to do when compared to how they were going to navigate this reality.

What you are facing may look like this. You may be facing some new challenges like this couple did with not being able to do things normally as you are used to. On the other hand, you may be like them in the respect that you can make some moves. You may not be where you want to be, but you can get around some of the present hurdles. You could also be the person on the front lines daily offering your gifts to help flatten the curve, reduce deaths, and minimize the time that it takes to get us out of this current situation.

Wherever you find yourself amid this pandemic, if you are still alive and have your health, there is much to be grateful for. This time has not been easy for many, but there are a few ways to navigate the current reality in a way that keeps you at peace and safe just like this couple.

> The first notable way they navigated the waters while out at sea was to talk to a friend. He informed them about the situation ahead and what to expect. Communicating and not isolating from others right now is important to be aware of what’s going on, what changes are taking place, and what is to come.

> One of the other notable things they did was to track their journey. This helped them to prove that they were at sea for several days and therefore in quarantine. (They were trying to get on land somewhere so that they weren’t just floating around. Hurricane season is around the corner.) Documenting this time through means like writing or journaling could be beneficial to you in the future. You could do this by writing daily reflections for 5 -10 minutes or writing 3 things you’re grateful for daily.

> After finding out about the impact on certain areas like their hometown, they ended up on another island. They are not where they want to be but are safe from harm. Being still and avoiding unnecessary movements may be in some of our best interests at this time. Some cannot avoid it and are prepared to handle it.

We have gotten through things before, and I believe we will get through this. Things may look different for us all, but we will grow through this. Be safe. Stay well.