The Gifts of a Pandemic

A New Consciousness Exploration

It becomes very evident in a pandemic, that we are all very much connected – that our individual actions and choices have far-reaching effects. It’s very powerful to begin to make our choices with a deeper awareness of our personal impact – how our individual choices affect others. It makes us aware of our connection with everyone else on the planet. And that’s a gift.

We are no longer individual countries, we are humans on a planet who need each other and whose individual actions impact the whole.

We are beginning to think more about other people and how our mere presence may affect them. We make choices based on the needs of others. We offer to help others.

The Gift of Namaste

Since we no longer touch each other in greeting we can use the Sanskrit greeting of “Namaste.”

Place your palms together, bow to the other person and say, “Namaste” (Nah-mah-stay). It means “The Light within me honors the Light within you.”

That creates a depth of connection we do not normally experience.

What a gift that is! We begin to see the light that is in each of us – the inclusive light that is All-That-Is.

Think about the meaning as you greet others – The Light within in me honors the Light within you. Namaste. Say it and mean it.

Our family dynamic has changed

Families are suddenly home together and a new dynamic of exchange and understating and patience begins to evolve.

We get to learn a deeper tolerance for each other’s individual needs. We get to be creative in how we entertain our suddenly-at-home children as we figure out how to do our own work online. We set new boundaries and guidelines that help each family member be aware of and respond to the needs of the others. Each family member will learn to accommodate the others and adjust to this new way of being.

Older people get to examine our own vulnerability

I’m 87 and when I moved into this senior center ten years ago I had to really rethink what I thought about dying – because there is a definite traffic pattern here. Those of us who are older may choose to look more closely at what we think about dying – as in what’s next or what the process is like.

Here’s the sobering part for me. If a doctor has one ventilator and she has an old patient and a younger patient, she has to make a choice. So we seniors have a very strong investment in staying isolated and out of harm’s way. And, we need to figure out our personal philosophy of dying.

I’ve fine with dying, I just have a lot more fun stuff still to do.

Loneliness may become a factor

Reach out on Skype or Zoom and have conversations with friends. Take classes online. I’m developing a stronger personal bond with the tree outside my window, and the midwestern clouds and the setting sun. And I have six friends I speak with regularly online. I’m not lonely but I am alone.

Who needs help?

Until we look around, we may not see how devastating this pandemic is to people financially. Particularly service workers whose jobs have gone away because of the shut-downs of gathering places. What can you do to help? Perhaps you choose someone and make certain they are OK. Phone calls are fine. Your willingness for that vulnerable person to be able to call you in need will make a huge difference in how they feel. Become a support buddy to someone. You will make a new friend. And you will make a huge difference.

What gifts can you share?

What can you create from your storehouse of knowledge and talents and gifts that can help others in person or online? It might mean reading a story to children online. It might be sharing creative and economical recipes online.

Share some of your skills with your children. I remember as a child how the live-in housekeeper in my grandmother’s house taught me to embroidery. I learned to knit along the line and have great shawls that I have made. I think you can make play dough from flour and salt. Create new interactive activities with your family. Things you do together.

There are basic skills to teach our children. Both of my boys learned how to cook at an early age. All four children did their own laundry because they outnumbered me. Maybe you teach your children budgeting or other life skills. Give generously of yourself and your gifts to your children.

What do you know how to do that will help others in this unusual opportunity we find ourselves in?

Make new choices

As we give up our known way of living, we notice how detached we have become and how distracted we are by our narrow focus on – whatever that online activity is for us. There is no more rush to get to after school lessons or games. What do you put in its place? How can you uniquely organize your family into a supportive, loving, accommodating, thoughtful collective? It is not about retreating into one’s phone. It is about consciously reaching out to interact add make a difference. We will expand our own light as we place ourselves in deeper service. It’s another gift fro the pandemic.

Hurrah for local governments

Perhaps our well-being is as strong as our local communities. The major of Kansas City held a news briefing on television in which I experienced an extremely intelligent man, doing very interactive, thoughtful, adaptable work with clarity and reassurance and awareness. Local government is showing leadership and it is gratefully accepted. How can you help in your community?

How do you want to change your “next”?

New opportunities are appearing. For instance, delivery jobs are suddenly in great demand. Be aware of the chaining culture and the new opportunities it brings.

This is definitely an invitation to change. To rethink. To explore new opportunities.

All of my online friends are younger and all of them are in business for themselves. This is a perfect opportunity to examine how you make your living online and explore your options for expansion or diversity. The socially distanced people are going to look for, discover and use more resources that are offered online.

At the very least, explore the possibilities. Podcasts, Courses, Videos, Books. What can you teach? Who can you coach? Then do some math – I need X number of clients/customers to earn X amount money. Explore your options. Find out what calls to you and make a business plan to test its feasibility. See if you want it to be a dramatic change in how you make your living or a repositioning of what you are already doing. Then use this time of introspective reevaluation to figure out how to do that.

Learn from Nature

Nature teaches us patience and cycles. She teaches us stillness and action. Now that you have the freedom, take meaningful pauses in your day and connect with nature. Whether you go outside and stand in the sun and take deep, centering breaths, or turn to look out the window and watch the shape-shifting clouds or touch the soft leaves of a nearby indoor plant, pause and connect with the vastness of our Oneness. This is a cycle. This is the on-going, ever-changing cycle of nature. Be with it. Flow with it.

There are many gifts in this pandemic

There is no known cure at this point in time, other than what our own bodies do to counteract it. And although people do die more do not. That makes taking care of our own body suits a priority. Be aware of how your choices and actions have a major impact on your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others and make positive choices.

There is a growing sense of global community

The greatest gift this pandemic has given is to help us see ourselves as one planet – rather than individual countries. That’s a huge, huge, huge gift.

Because this pandemic is worldwide, we need to learn from the actions and results of other countries. We need to copy what works. We need to exchange insights and information with them. We are truly one global, planetary community. We are one world.

The gift of introspection

What used to be important to us may no longer be. W get to look at that.

This may signal a crossroads in our life. We get to consider that.

We have time to deepen our spiritual practice and perhaps expand that practice with our families. This is a time to go within and listen to your own guidance and wisdom and bring yourself into greater alignment with your true place of service.

It is about change.

The planet is adjusting

We can’t see our lesson yet, but there is one.

There is a rebalancing taking place. Whether it is the planet or a consciousness that focuses on the higher good, we do not yet understand, but it is a gift and it comes with a lesson. We are to observe, learn and adjust – and be aware of ourselves as one over-arching, all-encompassing vibration.

There are gifts here, in this worldwide situation. What new choices are you making to help yourself and the greater community of our planet to move forward?

Namaste.

The Light within me honors the Light within you.

Deeper Song Affirmation

I creatively change my life and become more aware of my very deep interconnection with others on our planet.

A Deeper Song Process

Speak to your family unit, including those not in your home, and design creative ways to assist each other.
Look at your neighbors, particularly older ones and see how you might be of help.
Look for someone you don’t know very well, who you know is struggling because of cutbacks or a job loss and find creative ways to assist her and him.
Think community. Think tribe. Feel how we are all in this tougher. How can you be of service?
Identify your dreams and potential and go exploring to create a possible new “next.”
What are the gifts this pandemic is offering you?