A blessing in disguise?

Sometimes things aren’t always as they appear. Sometimes you have to look deeper for the meaning behind the outer cover of its presenting appearance. This virus. This pandemic. It for sure has brought mass destruction, mass devastation, mass chaos, mass fear, mass…what else would you add? To whom? To humans, and to everything they hold dear: their families, friends, communities, events, vacations, schools, dinner outings, the food that they subconsciously purchased every week, the beloved toilet paper they thought nothing of…the list goes on.

What has this pandemic taught us so far? Have you stopped and looked at yourself? Have you pondered how your actions affects others, and other living beings around you?
Have you stopped and taken notice of your own thoughts more, and more importantly, the presence behind all the thoughts?

Who are you? Without your job that is making you stay home perhaps. Or the job that is mandating you show up for the benefit of others. Does this job give you meaning?

Who are you? Without all the lysol wipes, and the toilet paper that one cannot find in the mostly empty shelves now. Do they provide a sense of safety in this very uncertain time? Does having those items provide you with a deeper insight into your own being?

Who are you? Without your weekend morning routine of going to your favorite coffee spot with your friends, and partaking in the weekly gossip. Does this activity maybe help you understand your existence better?

Who are you? With the increased visibility and activity of animals all around us. Oh wait, you didn’t really pay attention to that? You weren’t thinking along those lines. Those kind of things don’t have an impact on the meaning of your life you say?

Who are you? With an improvement of air quality and decreased pollution. Oh yeah, that’s just a natural by-product of people staying home. Not surprising, and what does that have to do with me and my life? What’s your point?

Who are you? The trees all around are more noticeable as spring is approaching full bloom. What trees, oh, those trees? Yes, the trees that have always been there.

Who are you? With all the wildlife more visible in your neighborhood, and all those pesky squirrels ruining your precious lawn. Are they messing with your happiness in life?

Who are you when you’re stripped of all the things that you let define you up until this virus took over: your job, your opinions, your perceived ‘freedoms’, your families and their well-being.

It’s not a trick question; there’s no simple answer.

Look to the birds who are still singing; be grateful you can still hear them. Look to the rivers and the streams, and the oceans who are teeming with just a bit healthier life. Look up to the sky and notice all the winged life that is louder, due to less human noise drowning them out.

Look to all the trees, those magical creatures, and thank them for your life; without them you would not be standing here reading this now.

Take a moment, take a deep breath in. Say thank you to each other, all living beings, systems, our planet.

Take a moment and recognize you are not independent and separate from any other form of life.

Take a moment and bow in gratitude for the animals, and the trees, and the earth.

Take a moment and honor all life as a prerequisite for your own.

Now take another look at yourself and ask yourself:

Who am I?

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