These certainly are extraordinary times we are living in. As the days grow in self-isolation, I have a lot of time to ponder. The quiet of my daily routine has been filled with all kinds of realizations.  Lessons are everywhere...

Although we are isolating ourselves and practicing physical distancing to prevent the spread, I've noticed that there seems to be more unity among us and even across the world. How ironic, huh? 

​There is a feeling that we are all in this together. People are reaching out and checking in with each other through all kinds of virtual means. Countries are helping one another and local governments are stepping in trying to figure out the best route through all of this. Not to mention, the heroes in our medical community, our grocery stores, and other institutions and companies supporting us through  everything. 

Could this be a message? That staying in touch, cooperating for a common goal, considering our actions in a “viral” sense and acting in the best interest of the greater good is key to our humanity and to our survival? How profoundly this virus teaches us that each one of us counts, that each one of our actions can affect those around us.

This virus is poking holes in our infrastructure revealing the weaknesses of our health care system, the dangerous number of folks living paycheck to paycheck, the growing wealth disparity, and the tenuous safety net small businesses live by, to name a few….What happens when a country that counts on private health insurance has a pandemic and companies and jobs are at a stand-still? What do we do then when premiums can’t be paid? What is in place?
 
Capitalism has come at a price. Like the Pied Piper leading us into a field of glossy promises, all the while emptying our bank accounts while distracting us from what’s important. These days, the feeling of powerlessness is also becoming epidemic and now we're waking up. Together, there is power in our unity.....

Obviously, not all capitalism is bad, but we need balance, equity, and support.  Because that’s how we are all going to survive - by thinking of the vulnerable and protecting them, by realizing in some way that this is each one of us.

I came across this sign on a road trip several years ago and it stopped me in my tracks.  It was one of those times when I took a left turn into the unknown, and from there a series of coincidences ensued.  
     This quote has remained meaningful to me.  It was the beginning for me like a little seed taking root or a door opening to a new path.  Sometimes I meditate on it, turning it over like a smooth stone in my hand.  What a reminder it is, a gift, and catalyst for change. 
     The present moment is sacred, because it’s the only moment we ever really have.  It's some sort of miracle to be present experiencing life in all it's fullness.  And when we realize that our lives and days are really just moments, it challenges us to think more deeply about the way we spend those moments and how we appreciate them.  
     It may change what we think is important. Questions may rise to the surface such as: What brings me happiness?  What brings me joy? What makes me feel alive? And...If not now, when?  As we begin to listen to and trust the voice within, we can begin to transform our lives, taking steps towards the life we want to live.
     It’s no easy task to always be conscious of this. We are beautifully human after all.  The wonderful thing though, is that the present moment is always happening.  Right now for instance and we always have a second and third chance to remember, to begin again, and reorient ourselves towards the life we want to live.  
     Sometimes it takes practice to be in the moment.  Meditation is a great tool.  You can also start by just slowing down.....here are some ways to begin....
 
When you eat a favorite meal or desert, take your time...savor all the flavors, the textures and the aromas....
 
Next time you're with a friend or a loved one, remember how this person is a gift in your life.......look into their eyes, smile at them, actively listen.....

When you find yourself outdoors in nature, take a second or two....look around you, what do you notice? what do you hear?  

When your pet greets you, spend time with them, pet them, feel how soft they are and feel in your heart the love they give!

​Ever stand at the shore and throw a pebble into the water?  See how the ripples get bigger and bigger and wider and wider until the circumference of them becomes larger than what we can actually see? This is how kindness works in the world.  And if you stay at the edge of the water, just a little longer, sometimes you see, one by one, the ripples returning to the spot where the pebble was cast.  That is kindness echoing back, but this is not why we do it.  
 
Whatever stories we have about our life, whatever our life experiences, I am certain, there is one which was difficult to go through.  I’m talking about the kind of experience that stops us in our tracks, changes things up and makes us re-evaluate what we believed before.  It happens at one point or another to all of us.  Although difficult, times like these can transform us as they can be an opportunity for growth and reflection.  Out of our own struggles, we learn kindness and compassion.  From the depth of our pain, we find the voice of tenderness within.  When we understand that everyone shares this, that no one is exempt from the ebb and flow of life, we know we are not alone.  Ultimately, from our own experience with suffering, we are motivated to reach out and ease the suffering of another.  
 
     It is not just in difficult times that this is important. Kindness creates a better world each day. We just don’t know how far one kind gesture will go. That’s pretty cool when you think about it... When we choose to act out of our common bond we share as humans, we realize that what we do for another we are really doing for the planet, for the children, for humanity.