Random Observation of Social Distancing

Ohio had the first snowstorm of the season. Saw this image at work, that brought to mind our 2020 World and Personal view. Many communication avenues are saying we are stressed by not having personal connections with those around us. Yes, that is true but is it not time to thrive as we move into 2021? We should readjust our view or GPS on our emotions and life expectations.

Picture yourself as the tree in the middle surrounded by the taller trees. Does this tree not look beautiful, all covered in the snow surrounded by others covered in snow just as well. The center tree has a limb outstretch to converse, interact, and shelter those around. Strong to support the snow but also surrounded by others in the same situation. Transferring this into an individual human component is that it is stifling to be social distancing but we all are. Let’s change our narrative to thriving in this time of change instead of looking back. How stifled are we indeed in this day and age of transportation, communication, and problem-solving?

The limbs spread out shows the reach we can have as an individual. Take time to continue to develop a routine of quiet time, not planning; this will look different for everyone. Still, some suggestions read a book, listen to soft music with a clear mind, and concentrate on searching out the positive around you even it is small that you even have quiet time, or read the Book of John, Psalms, or Proverbs of the Bible. Part of the tree is sheltering you, the individual, from the elements. Limbs are reaching out.

As you see the limbs reaching out, those limbs support the birds, squirrels, and other small animals as they climb out to the edge. As individuals climb out to the edge and change our path or thought process, we are as trapped as we make ourselves. Yes, you may not be able to leave your home but contact your local library to get on their home program to drop books monthly for you to read. Strive to look around and what kind of exercise you can do. Not being physically mobile, or you are those who can walk your neighborhood, google or bing search local parks and walk them, limited mobility stretches your arms try to reach the end table where you could not before. Make new goals we are as little as our mind, and sometimes our physical bodies place us. Physical example, during fifty to eighty percent of my day and work, my fingers become numb with pins and needle feelings. I make more mistakes, but I enjoy working and writing. Nevermind, there is spell check, and if I stopped, I would be giving in; as humans, we can adapt and change. Trees do that all the time. They lose a limb and keep growing, and even when a tree dies, they nurture the ground around it or warm a home. As an individual, are you going to prove the negativity right, whether it is your mental or physical health or the world around us right now that we need to accept there are aspects of our life we have no freedom we need to follow the rule given to keep us and those around us safe? Do we not do this in the workplace or social services presented by job and family services?

The smaller tree nurtures the larger trees, but that can turn just as negative if the smaller tree becomes ill. Illness (Dutch Elm Disease) can spread to the larger trees, and then you have many trees dying that may not contribute through the nutrition of the ground or warmth to a home due to not wanting to spread. As citizens, it is also our responsibility to keep those around us safe if we had the flu, pneumonia, and now COVID.

Instead of railing against what we cannot change and return to the familiar of ‘normal,’ let’s look around at the positive. At least in the United States (probably other countries as well), our politicians are allowing us to leave our homes to walk our local streets, parks, and other areas. The malls, shopping areas, churches are still open. At least a portion of our society can still work. Why not instead of saying I cannot go anywhere wough is me what about trying to walk or drive to a friend’s place just to put a card or gift on their door that you made yourself that you are thinking of them. Please make it a goal to walk somewhere in your town or city instead of driving there if possible. If you are genuinely unable to leave your home, reach out through Facebook messenger and say hi to someone or call. Make it a goal to contact at least two to three people a day. If you are like me and do not have that many people in your circle, send out thank you cards to business or call and thank them, they are open. See if you can volunteer at the local food bank. See if you can help at a homeless shelter.

We are a people that can adapt and thrive if only we will reach out like the tree. It may initially look like it may buckle under the snow it has on the limbs, but it does not, most times, and it bounces right back up. Even if it does lose a limb due to much strain, it is still standing and thriving just differently. As society and culture, do you choose to buckle and break under the perceived stress of what is happening around you, or are you going to step back a moment, refresh, regroup, and change the situation’s narrative and thrive? Yes, thriving will look different, but that is the beauty of humanity. Find shelter and celebration on the little and large successes and losses because every day is new and ever-evolving if you allow it. We can thrive to a new and beautiful 2021 if we choose to accept the things that are not changeable but change the aspects of the narrative that we can.

I choose to celebrate social distancing it has eased the strain of my social anxiety I do not have as many people to please. Which has helped to quiet my depression and allows me to concentrate on readjusting how I live my life, find what is important to live well, and interact with those around me. I choose to find those I can support or shelter under my limbs and find the positive among the negative. What can you choose to change and adapt to strive to thrive in 2021 and make it a year of positive change even if we still are under the same policies as 2020?

Song of showing adapting the struggle we have to thrive but shows we still can.

Katy Perry – Rise (Official) – 8/4/2016