For many of us, the last few months have been an emotional rollercoaster. While the world seems to implode around us, our feelings of fear, anger, resentment and even isolation are causing us to take a look within ourselves and rely on our own feelings even more than ever. While individuals whom we have entrusted with our safety, security and well being have seemed to make decisions that are detrimental to those very goals, it has become necessary for us to learn self preservation of our health and mental well being. Not only for us, but for our families as well by using all the tools we have learned throughout our life journey.

One thing that I have focused on this year is the need to control the emotions that I feel and not let others and outside influences affect me. That has become more important than ever. Not being able to do all the things that I love has caused me to draw on strength of being comfortable with me and who I am, rather than all those around me who are choosing a different path. While other’s actions risk putting me and my family in danger, especially dealing with a father battling Lymphoma, I can not let their actions consume my life to a point that I lose sight of who I am and who I want to be. I can only be responsible for us and do the things I need to do to keep my family safe.

Exercise and meditation have been my saving grace as we stay within the four walls as my particular state, Florida, grapples with the Pandemic that we face. I have learned not to glue myself to the 24 hour news cycle. I have focused more on my Bring Smiles to Seniors program. I have tried to find those things that enlighten my soul rather than darken it. I have relied on my friends to pull me out of those dark places that it is only natural to go in times like this. Especially when I find myself becoming the person that I don’t want to be.

While these are unprecedented times, they are but a small part of the journey of our life path. While bad, they also have goodness in them as we see people doing things for others that we might not otherwise see. We are going through periods of self discovery that are giving us new tools that will help us navigate future things to come. Tools that we might not have otherwise had. We care about and show concern for others a little more in our periods of isolation, when we might otherwise be just focusing on ourselves. At the end of it all, and there will be an end to this, I do believe that we are going to come out on the other side a different people where money, possessions and the desire for more are not going to be the normal.

As you navigate this time, I hope that you are finding some spiritual enlightenment that helps you get through what we are all experiencing. Love your family, friends and even yourself a little more. Embrace the strength and power that is within you to endure. Prepare to exit this experience with a little more kindness, compassion and love for a world that is going to need it. We all have the power to make a difference and how we use that power is going to be the key to a different world.

#morningswithron