The Pandemic: Grow from it, learn from it, or fear it
The pandemic leaves me with three choices. Grow from it, learn from it, or fear it.
How was your week?
This week, someone who I have known since a teenager, lost his wife to cancer in Toronto. What do you say? How do you say it? I called him and we had a good 30-minute chat as to how life has taken us from teenagers to now.
Another friend who was junior to me at university is now going through cancer. I had to make that call. Seeing my own wife battling cancer I knew what he was going through.
A classmate from university, we were chatting and he is going through a bitter divorce. I was grateful that a dear friend reached out to me and encouraged me for nearly two hours. I needed that after those three difficult conversations.
I still have a couple of voice mails to return. People asking for emotional, mental, financial, and business help. So many WhatsApp group messages to read, emails, and then social media.
Not another lockdown during the pandemic
I was looking forward to Easter. I had bought a new BBQ and was going to grill fish, chicken and enjoy Easter with my parents who I have only seen twice in more than 12 months.
Another 30-day lockdown was announced. OUCH.
A friend posted on social media ‘Are you fearing, learning or growing from the pandemic?’. It hit me.
The growth phase
Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny – C.S. Lewis
All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my trouble and obstacles, have strengthened me – Walt Disney
I am finding the growth phase difficult.
A vaccine aids the body in fighting germs that could harm us. Adversity and challenges inoculate us from dealing with stress.
I have written about the challenge that a butterfly has to go through to become so beautiful. How about an oyster who because of one piece of sand makes a gorgeous pearl? One piece of sand inside the oyster makes it uncomfortable and it reacts by creating something beautiful.
Adversity is the fuel for greatness. I personally hate pain. However, it is pain that is shaping me into who I am. It is giving me the confidence that I will overcome this pandemic. It is building my character. In my weakness, I am a broken, recovering perfectionist, control freak, emotional, and private school brat. I am learning to deal with adversity and it is creating resilience. I am learning from being uncomfortable. Adversity is drawing out my compassion and my writing skills. I am learning to accept the pandemic.
Yes, I have a purpose but executing it needs so much more time and resources.
Go ahead and find a purpose. This is the defining moment for our generation.
Find a way to help others. So many people who we did not know helped us through Debbie’s cancer. I am doing the same. Sometimes just a call or listening to someone. My biggest weakness is listening. But I need to do it.
Practice peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and compassion with others. We all need it at this moment.
Focus on faith, hope, and gratitude.
We all have to adapt. We are all in this boat together. Storms come; the waves become 20 feet. We have to change our sails. I admire Henry Ford who said that ‘When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.’
The learning phase
There is also the learning phase.
Adversity can be personal, discriminatory, failures or setbacks in a career.
I am learning to become more compassionate, self-aware, with limits of control, and flexibility. I find myself drinking more coke and eating more desserts.
I have to let go of things I cannot control. The government, the media, the vaccination, and everything else I cannot control. I am focusing on stuff I can control.
I am aware of everything going around me and am trying to control my emotions. There is so much pain, suffering, and loss out there.
It is important to accept that every human being is doing their best. There are no conspiracy theories. The Americans did land on the moon.
I am not letting the pandemic be everything. I am connecting with many friends. I am not ashamed of being an extrovert and that the pandemic is making me struggle.
The pandemic creates fear
It is easy to embrace the fear stage. It has been more than a year. It is easy to go to the supermarket and hoard stuff we do not need. It is easy to complain (I am guilty of this), get into arguments on social media about the actions or inactions of the government.
We all have a choice
History will judge us by our actions.
This is such a great way to look at our current situation. It’s so easy to get caught up in the fear and anxiety surrounding the pandemic, another lockdown and the uncertainty of our future. No one knows what to expect and when (or if) we will return to normal once again. Rather than focusing on the negatives and the unknowns, as you pointed out, we can redirect our focus and learn from the discomfort. For me, it has led to another (smaller) career shift and a larger shift in my overall priorities – especially in terms of how much time I set aside to spend with family. We haven’t seen anyone in FAR too long, but we’re getting there… if we just keep plugging forward and learning as we go. Right?
I thought that I’ve gotten over the “FEAR” that came with the pandemic, but recent happenings in our country revived some of those undesirable feelings again. I am trying SO HARD to move along with life and grow from it instead. Thank you for this — I got reminded!
I find I have to stay away from social media to avoid the conspiracy theories and arguments with strangers over differing opinions. Even just reading comments on a news story can be toxic. I recently had a conversation with two homeless men, and it really grounded me, and reminded me to be grateful. Things aren’t nearly as bad as I often act like they are (I’m a control freak too, and often complain when things don’t go according to how I planned them) and just how to put things in perspective. I’ve found myself very calm and grounded since that conversation. Reading this amazing post gave me that same feeling and it was a great reminder to simply be kind to others because we’re all in this together.
I definitely agree that this pandemic has taught us many things . I’m continuing to learn from it . Although I had fear before , it’s slowly fading away. I will continue doing my part with testing and following precautions. I’m also growing through this pandemic.
I’ve never been patient my all life and a positive side of this pandemic is that I finally (sometimes) am!
The pandemic has definitely changed me, I have learnt so many new skills, lost my original job due to shielding. Started a new job and began writing again after 9 years. Emotionally I have learnt how to connect more and appreciate people in my life, especially my parents. Working on rebuilding relationships ♥
These are great thoughts! The pandemic has been such a complex time for everyone. While much of it has been negative, there have been some silver linings of positivity that have come out of it. I know that I dont want to go back to the busy schedule I had pre-pandemic. I have cut out most extra activities, and am very selective in how I bring things back into my life. Thanks for a great post!
The pandemic is the most devastating event to rock the world. But it has leveled the play field and everyone has learned a lesson. As you said, fear and pain can propel one to greatness.
Love this! Good reminder to not simply survive, but rather thrive.