On my worst days, in the midst of my grief or anxiety, I might spend hours scrolling through inspirational quotes, photographs & memes. I literally have a stockpile of quotes in my Googlephotos. Later on, when I started using photography as a mindfulness technique, I would spend that scrolling time editing my own pics, to create my own inspiration.
When I was a child, my dad used to quote Winston Churchill. The quotes he typically referenced were far from inspirational - Old Winnie was something of a scoundrel, and my father found some of his quips rather hilarious. The two quotes that my dad preferred, and that made him chuckle raucously, are not fit for this blog... suffice it to say, however, that they became established as frequently used inside jokes for our family over the years. And, yes, my pup, Winnie, is named for Churchill, and puppy is just about as mouthy and sassy as Winston Churchill himself.
Churchill, as you may well know, was Prime Minister of England during the World War II years. He was not only a politician, but also a British Army Officer and a writer. He is considered one of history's most prominent and successful war time leaders, and was a favored adviser of Queen Elizabeth II throughout his two terms as Prime Minister, as well as a treasured friend outside of politics. Churchill used his gifted command of the English language to write the many powerful and inspiring speeches that rallied the people of Great Britain during some of their darkest days.
Obviously, Winston Churchill had absolutely nothing to say about COVID-19. However, he had a great deal to say about times of national crisis, and he was indeed gifted at inspiring strength and determination in a nation weary of war. With yesterday's announcement that Pennsylvania public school buildings will not be reopening for the remainder of the academic year, I think many of us are feeling weary, too. We've been "quarantined" for four weeks now, and we don't really have a light at the end of the tunnel. I know that we are all grateful for our blessings. We know, in our hearts, that we have much to be thankful for. Somehow, though, we still fall prey to feeling the emotional weight of these unprecedented and uncertain, sometimes frightening times. I decided that I would check in with old Winnie, to be reminded of some of the truths of surviving a time of crisis.
Easier said than done, but oh, so necessary! This is one of Churchill's most often quoted sayings. the longer I'm alive, the more I understand that the bad times are temporary. They may be really, really bad. But they don't last forever. Better days are always ahead, we just have to keep on keeping on until we get there. We will reach the other side of the COVID mountain. We have to keep doing what we know is already working, and we don't make the schedule, the virus does. The trick, I think, is to manage it according to the 12 step philosophy - get through one day at a time... "Keep swimming!"
Along the same lines, we have to keep the faith, and a will to win. We have to be determined to find victory, and we will. The virus is a willful enemy. We have to be more willful. Our scientists are hard at work, and they will figure this one out as they have so many times, with so many other diseases.
Our healthcare professionals... They are our warriors and our heroes; the front line soldiers fighting this war. She's not my biological child, but she's my child... I cannot even express how proud I am of her, and how grateful I am that so many like her exist. We are forever in their debt.
For many, the hardest part of all of this is the solitude: the "social distancing." No parties, no dinners out, no family gatherings, no visiting friends' homes, no school. By now, we all have our "quaranteam" - those with whom we are now bound to for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, many are alone, and being alone right now is really hard. Thank goodness for the technology! (Imagine that! The technology that we've been complaining about for so long is now our lifeline - who knew???) But, really... we will be stronger, we will be better, we will be more capable. Humans grow stronger from adversity, there is no doubt in my mind, and that is why I don't really mind going through hard times. I mean, obviously, I'd like all times to be great, but, I'm grateful for all that harsh reality has taught me, and I'm grateful that hardship helps me to be there for other people. (As an aside comment, I'd prefer that we call it "physical distancing" rather than "social distancing." Fortunately, we are still able to connect socially and emotionally to other people, We simply have to maintain physical distance. To me, that sounds a whole lot easier to manage.)
Finally, "This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." Don't give up, friends. Times are tough, we know that. We may find ourselves sad, afraid, anxious, tired, frustrated, lonely, impatient - we may start to think that this enemy is too mighty - but,
never, never, never give in. The bottom line is we are in this together and we can find strength in each other. We've got each other.
We've got this.
💖💖 At this moment in time, it is essential that we take care of ourselves so that we can effectively help the ones who count on us. At the very least, please be sure that you are comfortable at home, that you are fed, rested, and have some sort of interaction with other people. If you find that you are unable to provide any of that for yourself or your loved ones, please reach out to me at kmcgonnell67@gmail.com. If I cannot personally help you, I will point you in the direction of the proper resources. Take care of you. 💖💖
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