The Reset Button

Covid-19. The word that strikes fear and anxiety in many people around the globe. Much like you, I am hunkering down and wishing that this pandemic would just end. I think about all the plans that have been cancelled and how my daughter is missing her friends and yearning for some structure back. I am missing my friends and being able to go out and, physically, be there with them. I’ve suffered a great loss during all of this, and there is nothing more than wanting to be with my family at this time. I yearn for some human interaction and I’d really like to stop watching Frozen 2.

It’s easy to focus on the negative things during this time. I’ve had days where I struggle that nothing positive is going to come out of this. I’ve had days where I feel like this is never going to end and that everything in my life won’t make it to the other side.

But….

Then, I stop. I look around and see neighbors helping neighbors. I see people offering to go to the store, to put themselves into harms way, to buy groceries for those on the high risk list. I see companies, finally, not thinking about their bottom line and coming together to find a vaccine or manufacture equipment for those on the front lines.

I also see Earth hitting the reset button and this is the most uplifting thing through all of this. It isn’t breaking news that humans have been destroying the Earth and it’s resources. With humans locked inside, the lakh endangered Olive Ridley turtles are mass nesting on the coast of Odisha. With humans locked inside, Venice’s canals are clear because there is less boat traffic. With humans locked inside, there is a decline in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. And if you dig past all the negative media, you can see these stories everywhere. And the funny thing is, many of us haven’t had to give up much or really change how we live for all of this to happen.

My challenge for you today is to pick one thing that you have changed in the wake of quarantine and implement it when our lives are back to “normal.” This could be you eat out less or drive less or recycle more. Do we want to look back at this time, where Earth repaired itself, and just continue to hurt it or do we want to look back at this time and make the changes many of us preach- to leave something to our children and their children.

Be inspired by this time. We are seeing that one person can truly change the world.