This spring will be forever remembered as the time that COVID-19 and social distancing derailed life as we know it. With school closures and drastic orders to shelter in place, we (all of us) are going through a collective traumatic experience. We’ve had to pivot our lives, and we are afraid.
Fear is one of the most powerful emotions. It can seize your throat in the middle of the night and leave you feeling helpless. It can rob you of your courage.
In J.R.R. Tolkein’s masterpiece trilogy The Lord of the Rings, there is a quote, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
This is from a conversation between Gandolf and Frodo, who regretted having to live at a crucial time in Middle-earth’s history. Here is the key… when you face difficult circumstances, you have a choice in how you react. Will you uphold your principles in a way that puts meaning to your struggle? Or will you live in fear, trying to ignore it?
Tolkien’s message of hope in the face of overwhelming odds is a resounding rallying cry. He urges us to remember, that “where there is life, there is hope.”
There are some articles out there this week that look at data in areas with restrictions on movement which suggests that these restrictions are slowing the spread of COVID-19. Our social distancing, our extreme measures are working! The curve is beginning to bend, and that is hopeful news!
So let’s lean on each other and have hope. As I said last week, we’re all in this together, and we’ll make it to the other side. We’ve got this, parents! Now let’s flatten this curve.
