#stayhome

I look at this photo and it seems ages ago. I took it while laying in the sun on a hotel rooftop in Miami. In reality, it was only taken 3 weeks ago today almost to the minute. Since then, a pandemic has taken this world by storm. Mother Nature is shouting from the rooftops and people are being forced to listen. We are being told to stay home, don't leave the house unless necessary, and practice social distancing. Such a funny term: social distancing. What will this do to human connection? To human culture? Behavior? Our future perspective in this world is about to go through a massive shift. "Are you ready for this," Mother Nature asks? I sure wasn't. 

I have been learning so much about myself in the past 2 weeks.  How does one react in vastly unknown and uncertain times? I am no longer in a rush to do things.  It's strange, I never felt that hurried before but now there is ample time to focus on things I didn't spend that much time on before. Connecting with friends and family is all digital now.  Video calls and messages to check in, see if everyone is healthy, and try to have a laugh and maybe "cheers" the screen with a glass of wine. As an extrovert who is fulfilled when around people that I love, it's been difficult to find other ways to recharge my batteries.  Nature helps, as she always does.  Feeling grounded outside and watching Winter fade into Spring helps me realize that there will be more seasons to come and the light will outshine the darkness. 

I have been taught to embrace the uncertainty and that in order to grow, we all must transform. Transform into what, I am not sure yet.  But I know that it will be a better mindset than I had 3 weeks ago.  My distant cousin in Italy wrote to our family and said, "Now we can really understand that we do not need all we have and seek. We can understand what is essential in our lives...We also pray for all human beings, may we all understand much about life, love and nature. I do hope so."