COVID-19: WE NEED EACH OTHER
“LOVE IN ACTION is thoughts, prayers, a helping hand and an open heart.”
There is no perfect way to respond in the face of a crisis. The Coronavirus pandemic has brought fear, anxiety, death, loss of capital, and loss of the social connection that all humans need. As I sit at home practicing “social distancing” and contemplating how to navigate life with the children out of school for the next two to six weeks, I am also grappling with how to be mindful in the midst of chaos and how we can all help each other in this time of need. My approach is a combination of thoughts, prayers, having an open heart and lending a helping hand.
Thoughts: Think about the most vulnerable in our communities, such as the elderly and those with a weakened immune system. You may become infected with Covid-19 and have mild to no symptoms but as a carrier, you can be a death sentence to someone else. Just being thoughtful of others and respecting the CDC guidelines is a huge help to us all.
Prayers: We all have different ways of coping with tragedy and adversity. If prayer is your choice, when you send thoughts and prayers, please don’t forget to pray. Many in our communities fear for the health of their loved ones or have already suffered a loss. The prayers that you send out in the universe return to all of us in the form of love, hope, and healing. Unfortunately, many in our communities and internationally are in need of healing and we are all in need of hope.
Helping Hands: Volunteer to get groceries for an elderly friend or neighbor, purchase supplies online and ship to those in need, don’t hoard the soap, hand sanitizer, or toilet paper. Wash your hands. Please stop coughing into your hands. For you and your loved ones to stay healthy, we all need to be our best selves. Remember single parents, part-time workers, anyone in the service industry, and all the children who rely on the food and services provided at schools to survive. Have a meal delivered or use online transfer services to send a few dollars to help with their expenses. Every act of kindness helps. If you need assistance, ask for it; we are in this together.
Open Hearts: What has been on your heart? How often have you complained about lack of time for yourself, your passions, or your family? Now is the time for action. We are all in a collective pause. Read a few books, learn a language, re-arrange your house, call old friends, write a book, play chess or basketball with your children without feeling rushed, get on that treadmill that has become your clothes hanger, go outside and garden, dance, listen to music. We may not be able to hug or shake hands but we can finally make that call to say, I love you. Open your hearts and leave no room for regrets.
It is an incredibly stressful, anxiety-filled time for many of us. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance - financial, emotional or a helping hand. If you are feeling overwhelmed, call a counselor, pastor or trusted friend and take long breaks from the news. Consider giving mindfulness and meditation a try to calm the nerves and stay centered. Finally, be thoughtful, be prayerful, be hopeful, rest, recharge and lend a helping hand to someone. You are not alone. We are in this together.
Janet Autherine
