In a culture that hails relentless activities
We’re on the go from dawn to dusk, sometimes
To meet obligations, some others, just to keep going
Like Johnny Walker; it’s the way we’re wired:
Keep moving, keep taking, keep getting, leaving little
Or no time to pause for self-check, for changes
And adjustments. No, we cannot push our pause
Until life roars and forces us to a stop.

Interestingly, just one year ago, it was not a private situation that forced a handful of us to pause. A global crisis led to laws that compelled us all to do what so many of us hate to do: pause, look in the mirror and see who we are becoming. To cease from all we label “Needful activities,” long enough to check up on ourselves, face what we have become and get realignment where necessary. To spend time with loved ones for whom we claim to work so hard to provide for, who because of our unavailability know little to nothing about us.

For once , many of us had to sit back and do nothing. Even those things we thought we could not live without were taken from us and we survived, nonetheless. With due respect to those who lost loved ones and means of livelihood, not a few were slain by fear of the virus while boredom presented a greater risk than corona to others. What am I going to do with nothing to do? How can I be by myself or with these folks that long? Selfishness, self-loathing, and intolerance for those we claim to love but can’t stand unfortunately ruined many relationships. It’s been one year and counting and the end of this corona menace is not yet in sight.

Here’s my advice: learn to be! You can thrive being you. But we have to be in touch with who we are to truly be us in such shifty times. Times like this provide incredible opportunities to learn to truly love and respect life, others, and ourselves. To learn meaningful things in life outside of the things we’ve always pursued. Unless we learn who and why we are, we may have nothing worthwhile to offer those around and those who look up to us. Unless we have discovered and enjoyed who we are as valuable individuals, we cannot add value to others or see them as valuable. As we reflect on the events of the past one year, maybe we can start correcting all we did wrong and all we left undone for the mere excuse that ‘we don’t have time.’ We can all start small. We can all start somewhere. And we can all start today, right where we find ourselves.

Blessings
Glory!