In a sea of negative, how do we find the positive? How do we
grab onto that which will empower us through the negative? If I’m low in spirit
and depressed, do I know what is causing that? How do I counteract that?
Here’s some thoughts I’ve had lately.
1.
Yes; I’m depressed. This is caused by gross
ineptitude of my national government. It is further powered by gross
politicization of every little thing. With 40% or more championing the hideous
and negative, how can I keep my mind, values and principles on a high plane?
2.
The COVID pandemic has caused an enormous shift
of attention and living habits alien to what I’m used to. How do I
live with those without letting them get me down?
3.
Healthy family relationships. With kids not
returning to their school buildings, someone has to remain home to supervise
them, and assist them with virtual learning. How does the modern family with
two earners manage this challenge without also torpedoing their financial
standard of living?
4.
Virtual education of kids is not yet a perfected
method. The education establishment is struggling to learn how to do this for
maximum outcomes. How can we speed this up?
5.
What creative outlets can we tap to survive the
pandemic isolation?
Here are my reflections on those six items:
1.
I shift my attention to my local governmental
units. The municipality is doing well. They are working to maintain basic
services – water, sewer, streets, parks, physical facilities for later use,
police and fire protection services and emergency response support. They are
doing very well in spite of all the challenges standing in their way. Local cooperation
has been wonderful and continues to define the community itself. That positive
enthuses and empowers me. The same with county government; they are doing well
with all basic services in spite of challenges to the contrary. Library, school,
parks and fire districts continue to adapt to their new operating situations.
Schools will be the most difficult. It will require enormous cooperation within
the community to make the most of a bad situation. Community spirit will need
to step up to this challenge. I have faith that it will.
2.
As isolated as the pandemic has made us feel, at
least we have modern technology to keep us connected with one another, our institutions,
our churches and our families. Can you imagine what it would have been like
with no computers, phones, cable TV, etc.? I feel the isolation more at times I
would otherwise be driving out to see the countryside and feel its cultural
reality. Can’t do that right now. I must focus on the things I can do. Finding purpose
and doing it is the answer to this specific cause of depression.
3.
Healthy Family Relationships is tough on several
levels. First is the immediate household in which we must deal with the people
central to our lives. If you are alone, that’s one problem. If you are a couple
without kids, that’s another level. With children, married or single, is yet
another level of problems to manage. The more people in the household, the more
complications. But then the company helps! Another level is keeping generations
connected – adult siblings and their spouses, grandparents, in-laws, and all
the other relations. How is this done without breaking quarantine and
endangering one another? Facebook is one aid as long as you do not cast your
eyes on the negative environs provided by others. Zoom family sessions is
another means of keeping people connected. Frequent phone calls among the
different households of family members is yet another method to use.
4.
Virtual education of kids is a challenge I know
many thousands of professionals are researching and creating workable
alternatives. It will take time and patience to allow this to have desired
effects. Have faith; our society is very inventive and creative. We can do
this!
5.
Creative outlets include the arts. We are all
binge watching documentaries, films and TV shows. Finding musical performances
from the past is another art form to pursue. Listening to audio and video
recordings is yet another. Note the difference of cultural context between then
and now? Wonder how to bridge that divide for the future? Consider actors who
cannot perform ensemble projects right now. And musicians who cannot endanger
themselves by singing or performing in close ensembles. How can these talented
and creative people continue their art form and life’s passions in a time such
as ours? Are there alternatives they can use to do this? Meanwhile, what art
forms are buried deep within each of us? How can we develop these for
expressive use to help ourselves and others?
I’ve raised more questions than actions here, but at least
the process engages the mind and spirit as a diversion to our negative reality.
Press on and find your alternative reality that cancels the negative. I know
you can do it. I’m working on my own right now. Getting somewhere; inch by
inch; but getting somewhere.
August 8, 2020
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