In This Fascinating Time

Last updated on January 19, 2023

During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am observing an interesting social change.  I used to see the pride in our accomplishments, our hustle, our covering up of our vulnerability to show how awesome we are…how we have it all together. Well, we don’t. And now everyone knows it. 

And it’s okay.  We are all living in this new world together.  We are all sucking at home learning, teleworking, telesocializing.  We are all discovering that our piles of honey-dos have just been growing and not getting done.  We are discovering space to do them and the joy of doing so. 

We are discovering that we have neighbors. And they’re people too. And they care about us and our other neighbors. We are seeing people who can, reaching out to serve people who can’t. We are seeing people trying to hold it together, but falling apart instead.  We are living in humble times. 

And it’s beautiful.  It’s raw.  It’s freaking terrifying.  And it’s bringing people together.

This is a fascinating time in our history.  When we go back to our new normal after this plague passes, I pray we remember the feelings. Remember the actions. Remember we’re not as great as we think we are, and neither are they, and that’s beautiful.  Remember community. Remember people matter and people do care. Remember we’re not alone. Remember we didn’t lose hope. Remember we survived. Remember our communities still need us. Remember humility.

Let’s be a better people after all this. We are learning how now, in this quiet. In this boredom. In this “it’s time to actually deal with the family stuff” period of time. Let’s promise each other not to ignore the lessons.