A striking statement, “HOLD FAST to WHAT is GOOD!” and despite the challenge we face today, there is still so much that is good that we need to focus.

Life is full of changes! Changes that if we let it and make it intentional, has the potential to be rewarding, but to gain from change, we need to lower our emotional barrier shield and let change and manifest in us.

What a world we live in. Due to a variety of life and friend events, I had adopted the posture, “embrace today as tomorrow is not guaranteed!” This ever evolving mantra dealt with life and death, to embrace the wonders of friends, the world and those around us. We do not want to have a feeling of “regret or I should have’s”.

It was only 2 months ago the financial world was still in the midst of an amazing stretch of unprecedented market performance and historical record unemployment. Little did we comprehend that 8 weeks later we would be living in the health, economic and social (or lack thereof) world we are experiencing today.

It was not long ago we were reminded by psychologists and social researchers of the positive health aspects of social interaction, social connections and its impact on longevity and quality of life…Today Social Distancing is the buzz. Talk about a 180 social and societal change.

How will life be altered? What an interesting workshop and wine discussion that will be…sounds like more than “A Glass” to me!

This medical pandemic has placed the world, U.S. and local economies to a standstill with more questions than answers. So how do we react in our daily lives and with those we love and care for around us? For one…. “HOLD FAST to WHAT is GOOD!”

You may be asking yourself: “who could have anticipated this?”….well check this TED TALK by Bill Gates:

I have found myself more challenged than normal in finding ways to cope. Being a social human, social distancing is really difficult and causing normal stress and a feeling of being a bit unnerved. It does not help turning on the TV, all we hear is bad news and more doom and gloom….Hello NETFLEX and concentrating blessing and aspects of good and joy.

I am so glad that years ago I worked hard on “control” and realizing that “control” is overrated, and socially, relationship and personally destructive if over emphasis as a personal badge of honor. I realized that thanks to many of Brene Browns books, Ted Talks and public lectures that shedding that shield and letting emotions and others in is not only freeing, but a stress reliever and relationship (both business and personally)builder.

This past weekend I experienced a very personal encounter that put our current situation into a very personal perspective in a way I never expected, this experience made life real and shook me to the core. The experience moved me in a way that has been positive and has moved the needle of who I am a bit more in a positive direction. Let me share a real story from this past weekend;

“In part for a need of some comfort food and in part to support a local Twin Cities based pizza joint, I called in an order for pickup, nothing big…maybe $15-$18. When I arrived, the parking lot had one other customer car, I went to the door that had a sign…”not more than 5 inside at a time!”, I walked in to sense this still, spooky quiet environment, I was the only customer inside, the chairs tuned upside down and on all tables.

The young waitress/hostess greeted me with what I perceived as her normal gracious demeanor …”you must be Bob Strommen, our only pick up order right now….I will be right back, I see it is paid so you can get home and enjoy……she returned with the pizza, I handed her a tip, she said it was not necessary or expected and tried to decline, I insisted, she thanked me, then glanced at the tip… $20, she started to cry…thanked me twice more – her reaction emotionally shook me as it put into perspective how scared and afraid so many are at this time with no real apparent solution on the horizon. It brought to the forefront the need for greater compassion, looking for opportunities to exhibit acts of random kindness and intentionally looking for ways to help those so impacted by something that most have no control.”

Why this story? It puts in perspective how fortunate so many of us are and our ability to: “HOLD FAST to WHAT is GOOD!”

I am not discounting the individual concerns, nor the individual feelings we all are experiencing, on the contrary, I live and feel the pain, frustration and unnerving feelings we all are experiencing. Many of us who are reading this are blessed. Despite the horrific economic, social and health environment, we all have food, we can pay our mortgage and housing, medical expenses and our immediate “quarantined life is survivable”. If we cannot not and are in unchartered waters, are struggling with what to do, there are friends, family who are there to help. If there are none…..jot me a note and let’s see if we find a solution together!

What are my take a ways from this situation and challenge we have in front of us? How do we cope in all aspects of our life; health, social, emotional, financial and faith? I wish I had the answers as there seems to be more questions than answers, but I have learned and continue to be in a daily learning curve that we can and will survive with the help of others.

So here are some take-a-ways that I have learned, or re-learned these past 3-4 weeks:
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• What is happening now is REAL, admitting it, internalizing it and accepting it is healthy as denial is dangerous
• Anxiety in whatever form it manifests itself is normal, so do not panic with the feelings we all are experiencing in our own way and at different levels
• We are in an uncertain times, uncertainty creates anxiety, when we see the end of the tunnel light and glimpses of certainty, anxiety will start to diminish
• Take care of family and those you care most for
• Look for opportunities to exhibit random acts of kindness, it will do as much for you as for the receipient
• Spiritual Faith adds significantly to comfort
• Trust and Care adds to faith, empathy and compassion
• Demonstrating faith, empathy and compassion and being intentional in how it is received creates calm and triggers self-care endorphins
• Remove yourself from the daily and constant barrage of news and reports. What are we really learning at this point that we have not already been told? Find the positives on whatever streaming source you trust and rely for heart and life positives

 

Thank you for reading, stay well, stay healthy, be safe as we will get through this.

Bob