For the past two days I have been listening to the local news stations talk about getting used to the new normal. I beg to differ. This is NOT the new normal. The new normal implies that this is life from now on – forever. This is NOT our life forever. This WILL end. Those three words are what we have to keep in front of us right now.
Families without paychecks, small business owners, people who are infected, etc. – this WILL end. We WILL go back to work and school. We WILL get a paycheck again. We WILL recover. It may not be the easiest road to get there, but we must hold onto hope that we WILL eventually get there.
When I find myself going down that rabbit hole, I sort of put up a neon sign in my head: THIS WILL END. It’s definitely NOT the new normal. It’s a temporary normal. I’m taking the advice of a doctor I saw on the news. She said it’s so important for our mental health to keep this front and center of our minds. She also said it’s important to talk with your loved ones and make plans for the future. We should be saying “When this is over, we are going to ______.” This joins us together in an atmosphere of hope. And right now, that’s exactly where we should reside – in an atmosphere of hope.
Another good piece of advice she gave: in the midst of all the sadness, please take time to be grateful for the good things you DO have. Practice gratitude for being safe in your own home, having an abundance of food, and, if you are quarantined with family, hold this time dear. It’s not “wrong” to focus on your blessings in a time like this. I, myself, have to fight this, but as the doctor pointed out, we all live in our own heads and focusing on the good will keep us in a good place and free us to concentrate on and help those less fortunate.
Think about it. If you feel “good “ you will not be sitting there obsessing over yourself and your situation ie: going down the rabbit hole. You will be free to pitch in for others. My advice? Take a few moments a day to look around your house and just feel warmth and gratitude for the good things right in front you, then get up and go to work – whether it be sewing masks or working from home or teaching your children. YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING. Every tough day you make it through, you are helping someone else. By just staying home you are helping your whole community!
And so, as another day goes by, remember: this is NOT the new normal and we must reside in an atmosphere of hope.
Leave a Reply