living with uncertainty and the “new” normal
“sheltering in place” has benefits and consequences.
for me, these are one in the same… that is, being alone with my thoughts.
however, saying that i am “alone” while “thinking” is an oxymoron…
..kind of like “led zeppelin.”
that’s because there always seems to be several voices taking up space in my brain competing for conscious attention.
today, i found myself musing about some phrases that have become a part of our covid-induced lexicon and how they could relate to other aspects of my (maybe our) life (lives)
covid has been referred to as a disease that is “pernicious”, an “invisible enemy” and a “relentless assassin” imperiling our lives leaving a wake of destruction in its (our) path.
but how many of our lives are equally, if not more, imperiled by the hidden, unrecognized, silence of anger, resentment, entitlement, and disillusionment?
like covid, aren’t these things also ones that are pernicious, invisible, and if left unchecked, insidiously assassinate not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us?
unlike covid, are they not ones that we can exert a degree of control over to recognize, correct, and eradicate?
i would much rather spend my time working to handle the “enemies" that are under my steerage rather than fret about those that are not.
how about you?
today we face a situation that seems to require “an abundance of caution.”
if i were given a quarter every time i heard that phrase i would never have to work again for the rest of my life.
so often, we are reminded that others are “acting out of an abundance of caution” and firmly advised that we should do so as well.
but, how cautious should we be?
in which circumstances is such “abundant cautiousness” most necessary?
could there be such a thing as being too “abundantly cautious?”
i imagine that we all have our own view about how much “abundance” our “caution” should carry.
..and, most likely this depends on our past experiences and current situation.
for me, however, most of the joy, excitement, and benefit in my life has come from embracing risk and leaning into those that i have faced rather than being “abundantly cautious” and receding from them.
most of my lost opportunities have come when, often out of fear, i allowed my “caution” to be “overly abundant.” and failed to act when action was required.
so, at least for now, and out of an “abundance of wisdom” borne from past mistakes, i have decided to remain alert for, and willing to act on, the opportunities that come my way.
and finally, I know that these “uncertain times” are difficult, causing us to come face to face with a “new normal.”
but, has there ever been anything or any time that has been truly “certain?”
and.. if there was such a thing as an “old normal”, what did it look like?
can we now, or could we ever, predict what will happen “next” or how that “next thing” will impact our personal world?
is not our “certainty” today the same as it has always been?
..meaning that the only thing we can be certain about is that uncertainty will enter each of our lives.
and…when it does, this “certainty of uncertainty” typically happens whenever we least expect it and are most unprepared to deal with it.
this is our “normal.” it is not new. our “normal” now is the same as it has always been..
..the “normal” of uncertainty.
..the “normal” of needing to make adaptations to changing circumstances.
the normal of only doing more harm to our emotions and impairing our ability to make the necessary adjustments when we hope and wish that our “normal” now was the way it has always been or the way we would prefer it to be.
today is my normal, whatever it entails. it’s also yours.
in it’s glory
...or its splendor..
and…with all of it’s uncertainty..
here’s a toast to us as we deal with our caution, uncertainty, and the adaptation to whatever today’s normal may be.
rdf-10