Literally, what’s new? I don’t mean how are you doing, how are you holding up? What I mean is – what have you discovered about yourself in these last several weeks? Have you tried anything new, developed a new skill, or started dabbling in something that has always interested you?
As humans, we are very adaptable. This doesn’t mean that we like change, but we are super good at adapting to the change around us. A protracted power outage is one simple example. Within a few hours we are playing board games by candlelight, shifting perishable items to a cooler, and are back to the basics. No phones, no electronic gizmos, just conversation and surviving. I love a good storm and I don’t even mind a power outage. It is during these times when I learn more about myself and the people around me.
This “sheltering in place” provides an exceptional opportunity for all of us to slow down, to focus on what and who are most important in life. The world is such a busy place, and the busyness has been expanding exponentially (I know this is a word with which you are now familiar and can visualize). Think of all of the things that you did have on the calendar the last three weeks that seemed so important; a vacation for which you have been looking forward to, your kid’s sporting or academic event or a routine dental (or hair) appointment. In a similar way, think of the mundane things that you would just do like shopping for food, filling up your gas tank, dropping your kids off at school, or stopping by a friend’s house.
If last year at Christmas someone told you that you would be sheltering in place and not doing any of those activities by the springtime, you would have thought that person to be mad (as in crazy not angry). Had you believed them, you probably would have asked Santa for disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and (dare I say?) toilet paper. Who could have thunk it? (I am fully aware that “thunk” is not a word, but I am using it to amuse myself). What we are all going through would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. Yet here we are fully adapting to the new normal and learning all kinds of things.
So, back to my question; what have you discovered about yourself in these last several weeks? I would love to hear what’s new. Send me an email at brian.ursu@intentionaladvice.com and let me know how you have been spending the time and what you have learned to do or learned about yourself while sheltering in place.
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