Do You See What I See

Let’s start by agreeing that the last 4 to 6 months have posed a situation that we have never seen or experienced in a lifetime. Not since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, taking the lives of 500 million people, representing one-third of the then world’s population; have we been faced with a health crisis like the one that we are faced with today. Covid-19, currently worldwide tallies, 12,166,688 cases, with 552,046 deaths and climbing.

Daily life now includes wearing a mask, social distancing at least 6 feet apart, along with many businesses closing down, or sending their workers home. Our children are not allowed to attend classes in the classroom, and are faced with virtual learning environments, or not. Parents are now having to become teachers whether they are prepared for the task, or struggling to do the best that they can.

In the midst of the pandemic, we are faced with racial tensions not seen since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Add, from my vantage point, we are forced to live under the leadership of a President that rather poke the bear, than to provide a path for peace. Unfortunately, he rather consciously, unearth, and empower a level of hatred a large number have not truly faced, as many were lulled into believing there was equality and that all had the opportunity to live free as we were choosing our suburban lifestyles.

The ruthless murders of George Floyd, Ahmad Arbery, Eric Garner, Freddy Gray, Alton Sterling, Breonna Taylor and so many more have forced the world to face, say their names and choke or digest that “Black Lives Matter!” Some would argue that all lives matter, and while that is true, people of color are being murdered in numbers that far exceed any other race of people. I often think, how many died that we never knew or heard about prior to the convenience of camera phones?

The bottom line is, there is a lot to handle during these times. I give homage to the protesters that have taken to the streets to fight for justice and equality without allowing the pandemic to hold them back. Many others are fighting in other ways, because of an inability to take the streets for a variety of reasons.

So here we are in the midst of a storm never before seen, restricted primarily to your home if you have one. Others are fighting this out in prisons, hospitals, shelters because nothing stops. Life as you know it goes on.

I’ve lost track of the number of people that have told me they just want to give up. It’s too much to deal with particularly emotionally on top of their own personal challenges. Many have lost their jobs and definitely have long since blown through the allotted $1200 that you may or may not have qualified for. Business owners have complained that the grant money either was too slow, ran out or they were not eligible. And yes, I have experienced the feeling of wanting to just throw in the towel. I would be a liar if I dared to say that I never had that feeling in my life.

I would submit for the consideration of those that have that feeling, to stop and be still. Really, just stop and get quiet. Turmoil is not conducive to finding peace. It is in a peaceful state that you can connect with your inner being; the place where your purpose and your truth reside.

Trust me, I’m not suggesting that I am the only one, however, my life at times has been on the rough side of the mountain. It is when I learned to get to my still place, that I could begin to turn my conditions around, even when they were seemingly insurmountable

I challenge you to get into the birthing mode. The harder your problems are, I promise the greater your success will be. Begin to dream, look for the workaround. Unearth that thing that you haven’t had time for. Incorporate technology to accomplish what you can’t accomplish out of doors. Stop saturating yourself with impossibility, start speaking possibilities. Make a decision to win and stick to it. Fight like never before for what is better.

For me, this pandemic has caused me to realize we need to go back to the things we left behind. Life has gotten more and more costly and time snatched. The pandemic has shown us what we don’t need and what we can do without. It has brought families together, allowed parents to spend more time with their children.

Arguably, we are living in and through the roughest time in a lifetime. However, what are you learning? What is now important? What are you willing to commit to? What will you leave in the pandemic and never pick up again?

Choose love over hate. Let your yes be a yes and let your no be a no. Embrace love for those that matter in your life. Be open to love again. Squash what matters not. Most of all, turn yourself inside out and be honest with yourself. Go after what you desire, let nothing stop you. I dare you to be your best self for the duration of your life. Life is a precious commodity. Stand for what is right, Lastly vote like never before it matters, not just the President, every seat, every judge, every position listed on that ballot vote. Blood was shed for the right, let it not be in vain.

Tanya Wilson