Yesterday, this post was sent out with a YouTube link that did not appear within the email message. If you scroll to the bottom now, you will find a working link to the beautiful song by Tim Casswell.
During the pandemic I’ve made it a point to check in with many of my family and friends. It’s not been what I expected. Rather than finding an annoyed and frightened bunch, I have found many using their time to reconnect or lend a hand to others. It’s been very inspiring.
Some are making care packages, others conducting Zoom gatherings for family and friends, or ferrying food and medical supplies to those who are more vulnerable. Others have simply reached out with email offerings or links to music. I’ve been incredibly impressed with my community, both local and virtual.
So at a time when everything happened all at once, all I’d like to share two stories about living through a pandemic.
First, from my friend Sarah, whom I’ve known since grade school. Sarah is a wife, mother, nurse and cancer survivor. She is practiced at paying attention to the needs of others. A number of years ago, when she was waging her own life and death battle, I wrote a letter offering my support. What I got back was not a simple thank you, but a letter saying she was dedicating one of her days to me. That’s right, she said she had made a list of people who she would hold in remembrance on specific days. Not knowing at the time how many days she might have, she decided to focus her gratitude on a particular person each day.
So when I got a note from her recently reflecting on her experience of the pandemic, I asked if I might share it.
“I guess I have always been an optimist at heart and I believe that good things do come out of adversity (a belief that was tested during my cancer journey!) Here are a few “positives” I have already observed:
- families out walking or riding bikes together
- neighbors grocery shopping for neighbors
- strangers waving or greeting each other
- people being very kind toward each other in stores
- traffic being light to nonexistent
- air quality much improved
- reports of fish returning to areas not seen for a while
- people being generous with their money and time to help others
- learning good hygiene
- learning to connect to people in new ways
“I know this is and will continue to cause tremendous hardship on so many — those who are very ill, dying, losing jobs, losing housing, becoming more depressed, feeling lonely and isolated, staying sane while kids are needing time and attention while cooped up and so many more situations. May we each find ways to help those less fortunate.”
Then I checked in with Mary, a business associate of mine, and received an extraordinary email.
“My focus right now is really sharing ways and resources for our clients to help their employees and families. Our company is handling this situation in a sincere and heartfelt way, with the focus on support and help! Which I love! I have been working with current partners and prospecting new national partners that can help families in any way, whether it be groceries, food delivery, fitness, kid entertainment, streaming services, work-at-home tips, money saving ideas, financial updates, home and auto refinancing, etc. We are then supplying these resources to our clients so they can send it out, or we will do it for them. We are not pushing brands, just the help. I’m proud to be part of this team. It’s amazing when things become surreal how much people pull together. it’s uplifting. I wish we as a country didn’t need a pandemic to bring out the selflessness and the best in people.”
Indeed! These difficult times are bringing out the best in so many. It’s good to be reminded of all the generosity, kindness, and beauty illuminating these dark times.
“The common good is about how we live together in community. It’s about the ethical ideals we strive for together, the benefits and burdens we share, the sacrifices we make for one another. It’s about the lessons we learn from one another about how to live a good and decent life.” ~ Michael Sandel, Harvard University
I want to thank Sarah and Mary for changing my perspective on these hard times. They have shown me that each day I have an opportunity to connect with community.
Now, a gift for your soul, a song by an old friend, Tim Casswell, that beautifully captures the possibilities that lie in our current adversity. Click here to listen.
Just a thought…
Pat
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