The pandemic was a challenging time for everyone. However, it gave us an opportunity to pause.
While some were still working and some worked from home. While some businesses remained open, and many were still able to go outside. For the most part, the world seemed to slow down for a while.
There was a global pause. From this pause we found time to think, we had more time with loved ones, or to call loved ones, to find a sense of resilience in ourselves, or discover a new hobby. Perhaps some things started to heal, and other things came up that needed healing.
Though the pandemic is over, and while we still face challenges today. Things could be worse.
Imagine it’s 1775. You live in Boston. The British are trying to take over your land. The only form of light you have are candles and oil lamps. The only form of transportation is a horse drawn carriage, riding horseback as the soldiers did, or you must walk to your destination.
The only way to communicate was verbally or by handwriting letters, which during this time in Boston could be a challenge as the British and the new Colonies would intercept the mail that came from either side to gain more information during the war about their opponent.
The only way to hear news was to read it in the newspaper, which was printed one letter at a time, or you might hear something by word of mouth from a friend.
Everything was different back then.
Today we live in an advanced world. Yet humans seem to be the same reactive, anxious, jealous, and challenged creatures as they were back in 1775.
But why? What for? Why does our ego plague us so?
Why does the outside world seem to make us feel so small, helpless, hopeless, unhappy, challenged, desperate, angry, depressed, anxious, overstimulated, listless, and overwhelmed?
Can we pause? Please!
We don’t need a global pandemic to find pause in our life.
Let’s pause. Let’s take a break. Let’s breathe.
We are okay. All is well here.
If you can shift your perspective in the pause, you might see the challenge is not so scary, and you are more in control than you thought.
Today we have electricity. We have running water. We have cars. We have many ways to communicate. We have various ways to get the news.
We are so lucky in so many ways.
It is very hard to look past the challenges. Some days it feels impossible to feel any hope. But when you learn about different countries, different people or learn about a different time then life is put into perspective.
Things could be worse. Things could be harder.
So, when life feels impossibly dull and difficult try to pause and pivot to a new perspective. At the very least you can think about that and perhaps it might give you a reason to be grateful for what you have.