Breathe

April 09, 2020:

It’s always a struggle to try and find a captivating opening to a blog post, but even more so in times like these. How does one keep the positivity meter on the upswing when doctors, politicians, and news media are comparing the Corona Virus to WWII?

I mean sure, there are no bombs dropping on our heads and no physical destruction of property (yet, thankfully), but then again we are experiencing line ups for groceries, product rationing (or downright unavailability) due to shortages, and possible financial issues that will hurt the longer that this continues, but even more importantly, we are dealing with our own health issues and those of our loved ones hoping that somehow, we can all muddle through this with little to no personal impairment.

Costco Newton

I know, for me anyways, I’m doing my best to try and stay motivated as I plod along on my explorative journey, but I have to say that it has been a little bit of a struggle of late. You would think that with all of the supposed time I have on my hands that it would be no problem finding the hours needed to keep up on all of my inspired endeavors. You would be wrong. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, but that’s actually okay.

One of my acting coaches made a comment in an email that she sent out the other day, detailing some online courses being made available, suggesting as well though, that we should be careful not to fall into the “nonsense trap of super productivity” (like you might see on social media with everybody plying their wares) just because we’re at home and feel as though we should be doing something extra with our time.

That comment resonated with me more so because of how I constantly felt when I was working and was actually quite busy. It always seemed to me that I was missing out on the opportunities to hone my creativity because of my job demands. Then, when I retired, I dove straight into the artistic waters keeping the propeller gyrating at max revolutions. When the virus hit the propeller jammed, but the truth of it is, there is something to be learned here. A silver lining in the proverbial dark cloud.

Suddenly, now that there’s time to think (I mean real time), and yes, it is different for everyone, but I’m starting to realize in my own way, that when you break things down to the bare necessities, life can be enjoyably simple and that the desire for more can inevitably kill you.

I remember watching a motivational video once that begged the question “How badly do you want something?” The speaker brought up a hypothetical about someone (could be any of us, but let’s say it’s you) that was standing at the edge of the shoreline gazing out at the vast ocean and wanting whatever was out there (metaphorically speaking - could be money, success in business, fame?) bad enough to wade out into the water and go after it.

Of course, the ocean is cold, but you can see what you want, it’s out there and so you continue. Now the water has risen up past your chest as you wade forward and breathing is becoming a bit more laborious. Your body is starting to feel the effects of the icy temperature, “How badly do you want it?” (referring of course to whatever it is that you or anyone might want more than anything and are willing to do what it takes to get it).

Now the water is up to your chin, your body is unable to retain heat and you are on your tip toes, but what you want is right there, only just slightly outside your grasp. “How badly do you want it?”. You don’t know how to swim and it’s all you can do to keep your face from submerging into the frigid seawater as your toes now lose contact with the ocean floor. “How badly do you want it?”

You are now fully immersed. Your lungs are burning for oxygen and your body is shutting down from the loss of heat. This is your last chance to turn back. What you want is right there, but if you continue forward chances are you will drown. “How badly do you want it?”.

A lot of us are drowning and we don’t even realize it because sometimes the need for more blinds us to the fact that all we really need in life is to breathe. And that, to me anyways, is the silver lining lesson in the Covid 19 black cloud.

Until next time.

P.S. Thanks for reading and have a great Easter weekend.