Stop and Smell The Roses

The world. OUR world, is in a place where the unknown is something we are ALL facing. And it's scary. We don't have a comfort blanket. The blind are leading the blind. Our leaders are doing what they can, but this situation isn't familiar territory. The world’s greatest scientists are doing the best they can, but they don't have all the answers. Parents are being told to keep their children home from school which may also mean keeping them away from their work. From their income. Single mothers are being made redundant. Weddings are being postponed; travel plans cancelled. Gyms, nightclubs and religious gatherings are all being told to put their operations on hold. Life as we know it has changed dramatically in a number of weeks.

We are all being forced to take a second to slow down. Now is a time to look and appreciate everything we have in life. LITTLE THINGS MATTER. So many of us have so much to be grateful for. If you woke up this morning, that is the biggest blessing there is. You get to live another day. And if this pandemic has shown us one thing, it is that some people aren't so lucky. Death doesn't discriminate. It can come knocking on your door at any time. It doesn't care if you are rich or poor, what race you are or what gender you are. So yes, just by waking up you are blessed. If you are really lucky, you are waking up with a roof over your head and food in your fridge. And if you are REALLY REALLY lucky, you have your friends, your family and your health.

Stop whatever it is you are doing right now. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and out through your mouth. Open your eyes. Take in whatever it is you are looking at. Now remember, you are still here. Still seeing whatever it is you are seeing. You are alive.

I get this is a hard time for a lot of people and it is important to note we acknowledge their feelings. It is okay to feel sad, angry, scared or disappointed. But don't let this control you. You are stronger than this. You have gotten through 100% of the hardest days of your life so far. Don't let that change. No matter what happens, there will be light at the end of the tunnel and you will get through this. Now more than ever is an important time to make sure we are checking on those around us. An "are you okay?" message could go a long way right now. And if you are struggling, PLEASE speak up. People care. I care. Don't try to get through this alone. A bigger unit is a stronger unit.

Yes, entering the unknown can be scary. But I think there is something beautiful about it.

This could be the fresh start our world needed. Let's look after our world - our planet and each other.

And I hope once this is all over, we all remember to stop and smell the roses and appreciate how beautiful life really is.

K.

xo