Such strange times…

I must admit when this outbreak first emerged on the scene I was less than impressed and tossed the notion into the trash without a second thought. And now I sit a little in disbelief and a little in shock of the happenings outside my door.

Most of my waking hours are inside these four walls as both Awesome and I work remotely. Before the madness, the urge to get out of the house after a day’s work pulled at me like an annoying itch to scratch. Many a times we’d shift from the gym to the coffee shop, both not wanting to head home just yet. And now that we are engaging in social distancing, like good citizens of humanity, this desire supersedes all else. I now feel like a fish staring outside of an aquarium, watching the rest of the world go by in slow motion.

The time indoors calls for a little self-reflection with a side of introspection. I often try to think about the silver lining in any situation; a habit a good dear friend of mine taught me. Perhaps we will never truly now the why of the world and/or if there is something greater at work, but hitting the pause button opens the door for change.

Change will happen whether we are still or moving. ~Toad the Wet Sprocket

I haven’t been counting days of self-quarantining. Every day, to some degree, is an exercise in the course, given my routine. But since the govt shut down all major areas of congregation the following has happened:

• The world has come together in a way that I’ve never witnessed before. A recognition that we are all in this together.
• The triumph of human spirit emerges as Italians sing along with each other from inside their homes, voices echoing in perfect harmony.
• People are actively trying to support small businesses to keep them afloat while they’ve been mandated to temporarily close their doors.
• Entrepreneurs are quickly re-positioning their business model to cater to a virtual setting. Our local coffee shop markets every day for pick up delivery and recently set up an online ordering service with a side of curb-side delivery.
• Artists and musicians are finding a way to openly share their craft with others through virtual platforms and social media.
• The list goes on…

For me personally – I’m reading more than ever before. Diving back into my journal of ideas; exploring new art to bring to life. I’ve reconnected with friends I haven’t spoken with in some time, making attempts to FaceTime and Zoom call to create an even stronger connection. And even though I’m disappointed in the change in my travel plans in April, the warmer air is beckoning and the breeze whispers in my ear that it’s time to prep the garden for the summer growing season.

Stepping outside of myself and looking out into the future with a long lens, I anxiously await how this change will transition into a new normal as everyone pivots to a virtual world for communication, even more so than before. How we manage our day to day, our interactions, our legacy thinking and way of doing things will all begin to transform. And what will emerge on the other side?

Yes, isolation breeds new discoveries and original thinking. Perhaps this time will sanction off another important period in our historical timeline. We are currently sitting pretty in the Information Age – The Big Data Era, if you will. Maybe 2020 will mark the dawn of the next stage in development…

So here’s to the great thinkers, problem solvers, and visionaries… This is your time to shine!

In the meantime, we’ll all be riding out this storm.