“This is what we’ve waited for
This is it girls, this is war
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by”

It is often during the most obscure circumstances that ordinary people can tap into their heroness.

A lot of people are very scared. Understandably so.
Most of us are uncertain of what to do or how to help.
We don’t even know how to help ourselves.

Que those stages of grief.
We all must go through this.
There’ll be no shortcuts.
Eventually the stage of acceptance will reach your door.

You can wallow in despair or you can help yourself and maybe even other people too.
No one was given a choice here. Our only choice is how we react to this.

Reacting constructively is a lot better than merely responding in hostility.

Suffering = pain + resistance.

Pain is unavoidable at this stage. We can’t resist it as we’ll suffer for longer.

It may feel like all your rights were taken away.
I get it – it takes one hell of a mind shift to process this.

I can however attest to the fact that we have so many choices we are not even consciously aware of. We still have an abundance of blessings that have always been there, we just took them horribly for granted.

There are even new unexpected blessings I am discovering each day.

The fact that I check in with my loved ones more often.
And not on a superficial level. We actually speak about real and meaningful feelings such as our fears and concerns.
I am connecting to my family and friends in a way that I haven’t in years.

I am relating to my community in a deeper way too.
Those people we see every week, but we don’t really interact on a broader level.
My nail technician. Gym instructor. Hairdresser. The lady who sells me dry-wors every Friday from her little shop.
I have a deep concern for their wellbeing.

I have seen companies and individuals coming up with incredible new inventions of how to adapt during these unprecedented times of struggle.

The way we connect and do business has drastically changed.
A year’s worth of innovation crammed into mere weeks.

It is astounding what humans can do when faced with catastrophe.

Crisis breeds opportunity.

Tragedy and dismay also have a way to cloud our views.

I do know for sure that love is a lot more powerful than fear.

Compassion is a lot more effective than selfishness.
Empathy is a lot more productive than worry.
Creativity is a lot more constructive than wallowing.

Anyone who has ever been on an airplane knows that in case of an emergency you need to put your own oxygen mask on first, before assisting others.

Make sure you are mentally strong during these tiring times. Keep up your exercise routine. Nurture your body. Don’t fall into bad habits.

The next step is to think of ways you can help others put on their oxygen masks.

Do you have a skill that you can utilize? Are you financially stable and can aid with temporary funds to relieve someone’s burden?

Anything can help. Every small gesture counts.

It has a ripple effect that transcends through the universe.

Maybe you are a retired teacher and can offer extra lessons online?
Perhaps you are a personal trainer who can teach virtual workouts?
An artist offering free activity sheets to download for children?
Or you could volunteer to get some essential groceries for your elderly neighbours?

You may think you don’t have any special skills – but you are mistaken.

Even by just being a shoulder to cry on. A friend to vent to.
You can make a difference.

Everyone knows the saying that negativity breeds negativity.

Well I believe the opposite is true.

Positivity breeds positivity.
Hope is also contagious.

You can’t quite comprehend how powerful you can be by just offering someone else a sense of hope & inspiration.

That is what will carry us through. That is what we will be remembered for.

You have no idea who you are giving confidence to.
You may reach someone whose faith was withering and they were ready to give up.

This is where the magic happens!

The person you inspired and encouraged will do the same for someone else.
And that person will do so for another individual and so forth.

By paying it forward, we can spread optimism and light faster than what this virus can spread.

Now is the time to show your true character.

Will you be proud of how you acted and how you showed resilience when you look back at all this in a year’s time?
Will you feel a sense of accomplishment when you look back at all the people you supported and reassured?

I know I will be.

This is merely a chapter of our life story.
It may be a long chapter and a hard one to digest.
But this is not the end.