Weeks Three and Four of Social Distancing: Patience and Trust
April is oddly flying by, some days pass feeling as though I’ve accomplished nothing and others feel like I have an eternity to check several things off the to-do list. No matter what, time ticks on - the sun rises and the sun sets, the moon circles as it illuminates the night sky, and spring showers and flowers arrive as we clean up fall and winter’s leftovers, just as it always has; Mother Nature is resilient and steady with billions of years of experience. Time is so relative.
These past couple of weeks have provided many lessons in patience and trust for me and maybe for you too. We had snow several times, bright warm sunshine many days, a few gloomy cloudy days, a good bit of whipping wind, and a bright moon on the clear nights; ever changing and uncertain just as the current state we all find ourselves in. I also had days with energy and excitement, and other days that required some down time to recharge. None of us ever really knows what’s coming next, but this is all amplified right now and what’s clear is that we are all connected in more ways than we realized even just a few weeks ago. We are connected both to each other, from one side of the globe to the other, and to our environments, the places we each call home on this one shared planet. Being reminded of this uncertainty and connection as if we are woven together yet still separate has brought up patience and trust over and over.
Patience:
With those we are sharing our new routines - Our home routines have been jostled and change of habits takes time to feel normal - whether for ourselves, our partners/spouses/roommates, our kids or our pets we all respond in different ways and at different times. When we get deliveries or bring groceries home there are new protocols for prevention and these new cleaning routines are draining. All of this is different and we are all having to think a little more about what was once so rote. I am reminded to take a few long, slow exhales. Patience.
With the weather - We had snow in the morning then warm sun in the afternoon, and steady rain for one day then gusty wind for another. Our yard and local trails have muddy, soggy places and bright, budding places. I am reminded to broaden my gaze, take a longer and more expansive view. Patience.
With each day - Time is so damn relative, some days fly by and others are creeping by, some days feel like they just disappear and others just won’t end, some days start slow and peaceful then end crazed and other days start feeling off and end feeling just right. The only constant is change and I am reminded that the season is also changing so I take a moment to pause and listen for the sound of birds and frogs returning. Patience.
Trust:
Ourselves - Trust that we can get through this. Trust that we can re-think our way through the challenges that come our way. Trust that it’s okay to slow down and not be busy all.the.time. I am reminded to tell my ego to step aside for a bit and let me truer, deeper self speak up. Trust.
Those around us - We are all working towards a common good for the health and wellness of all of us. We are each doing the best we can with the information we have. This is hard for all of us, so some of us might not be the best version of ourselves right now. I am reminded to feel how connected we are and how shared our experiences are as humans sharing this one planet. Trust.
This time - We are in unprecedented times, but this is not the first time a virus has spread through humanity - we have survived the spread of HIV, the Spanish flu, the Black Plague, and many more over the millennia, trust that the destruction, or at least interruption, of so much will lead to greater shifts than we could ever imagine. I am reminded that this is how nature works and that our logical left brain is limited right now. Trust
I am no pro at patience or trust, but I am learning to recognize that when both have left the building, I am far more tense and reactive so I’m doing all I can to keep inviting them back in. I hope you can too.
Here’s to week five, one day and one hour at a time.