Unprecedented times.
A phrase we hear often these days.

I have always been a keen observer of humans.
As I have grown older, I have learned to do this in a non-intrusive or non-intervening way.
By that I mean I don’t meddle in people’s business and I keep my opinions mostly to myself.

A life’s mission that sometimes needs self-control in this social media age we are finding ourselves in.

What’s it to me anyway?

I was not placed on earth to be the keeper of people’s lives nor am I here to teach someone a lesson when they have been behaving in an undesirable way.

Everyone has their own moral compass to adhere to.

The shuffling of my inner peace is not worth a confrontation with someone about trivial nonsense.

That which upsets you, controls you.

I am merely here to observe in quiet pensive silence.

I live according to the philosophy that I am here to work only on myself.
Am I the person who I want to be and if I’m not there yet, how do I achieve this?

Of course, it’s wonderful if you can be a positive influence and a driving force in someone else’s life.
That’s different.
That comes from an authentic, loving and compassionate stance.
And the other person is usually eagerly open to receive it.

Support, love, kindness and empathy is never the wrong approach.

As we have been sitting in lockdown and the world has come to a pause, I cannot help but to observe people’s reactions to it.

My opinion here is based upon people who are more or less in the same economical & cultural situation as myself.
I am not at all in the position where I can generalize my perceptions to everyone in the world’s experience.
That would be ignorant and irresponsible of me.

What strikes me the most is how this catastrophe seems to be intensifying the best and (or) the worst in people’s characteristics.
It’s also highlighting people’s strengths and shortcomings more vividly.

People I know who have always had a positive demeanor are still acting positive and encouraging.
Folks I know who have a negative outlook, still only share the bad news on social media about these tragic times.

It’s almost like we have a default setting that we fall back on when life is scary.

Some individuals are being faced with realities about themselves or their lives they have been avoiding for years.

Those who lived a life of escapism are struggling the hardest.
You cannot help but to face your demons when you have nothing else left to do.

This is painful.
And extremely hard.

And I am seeing some folks avoiding it like crazy.

As someone who has gone through behavioral and talk therapy, I recognize the uncomfortableness.

In a way I feel happy for people having to own up to the deficiencies and imperfections of their personalities and lives, but on the other hand I feel empathy about the forcedness of it.

This endeavor almost feels like a bad new year’s resolution experiment.

New year, new me!

Only this time you are an unwilling participant in a long-term psychological cooperation.

If you always had an unfulfilled life, you would certainly feel it more fiercely now.

If you were content with your life, your spouse, your career, your ambitions – you will still be happy now.

Those who lacked ambition, will not suddenly become work horses.
Forming a stable routine will be hard for those lacking grit.

Those who had a strong work ethic, will still get up and work the 9-5 even if it’s from home.

If you were caring and nurturing towards your body, you will still find time to work out and eat right.

If you were not attentive towards your physical health, you will find a way to sabotage yourself.

If you had strong relationships with family and friends, you will keep it that way.
If there were cracks in those relationships, they will deepen during these times.

The religious will cling to their faith.
Atheists are not going to see the light.

No one is going to complete a 180-degree metamorphosis during this lockdown.

The ugly and the pretty side of the human experience is being displayed in full colour.
No filter.
And it’s both painful & beautiful to watch.

My only conclusion is to use this season of madness in conjunction with self-awareness to pinpoint inadequacies in my life, my relationships and my behavior.

If there is a little voice inside my head telling me that something is not right, I need to fix it when we get on the other side of this mess.

It would be terrible to waste a wake up call.