To this day, I clearly remember Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Not so much the massive destruction and inconveniences (3 hour gas lines), but the way our community came together. I lost my job and home on that same day. My boys were sent to their grandparents in other states and we had the national guard in tanks patrolling the neighborhood. It was a scary and stressful time. Yet, looking back, what I remember most is not the stress but the goodness, kindness, and generosity that came from others. I grew as a person and developed courageousness and resiliency.
With the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), the entire world is facing uncertainty. The impact may be much greater than a Hurricane Ivan but stress is still stress. So, what’s the best way to handle stress when it’s stressful all around us? One quick way (and I’ll post more over the coming weeks) is to “counter negativity with positivity”. Pretty simple concept but not so easy to change the way we automatically think. As a people, we are drawn to negativity and drama, but we can change that. It’s okay and normal to have concerns but we do not need to let them consume us. Negativity serves no good. Looking around, I’ve noticed, less political bickering on the news, more care for the elderly (my friend has her teens delivering groceries to them), and extra parental time with children (it’s a gift of time that will one day be missed).
What good are you noticing in this not so good situation? If you haven’t seen any, keep looking. Or better yet, create some!