Tri-County News

Let’s aim for better than ‘normal’


Jean Matua “From the Heart

It’s been one year since the world shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, most of us thought it would only be a few weeks of disruption to our lives. Boy, were we wrong.

Whether we acknowledge it or not, the pandemic affected every aspect of our lives. Schools, bars, restaurants, doctor and dentist offices, and most other businesses were closed. Grocery stores stayed open, but had difficulties maintaining supplies – between people hoarding, and irregular transport of goods.

Month after month went by, and the memory of what we all considered “normal” fell further and further away. And yet what people craved most of all was a “return to normal.”

I would like to challenge that. Why? Because I’m not so convinced that what was normal a year ago was so great.

Follow me here, please. I’ll speak for myself, at least. Perhaps you will see some of yourself in it.

Up to a year ago, my daily calendar directed my life. It ruled my life. Looking back from this perspective, I was pushed from one meeting or event to the next, ready or not. And there was a lot pushing me to and fro.

I have been blessed to be able to work from home for the past 13 months now. Those same meetings and events that pushed and pulled me were either cancelled or changed in format (carried on by Zoom, telephone, etc., rather than in-person).

While I may be working a few hours more than I was then, one major thing has changed: intention. I have the luxury of being intentional about what work I do. I have choices, rather than being driven from one task to the next. I have taken charge of my days. I make choices, and accept the consequences of those decisions.

Looking back, with the advantage of a full year of retrospect, I know I was not alone in that feeling of being driven through day after day, rather than being in the driver’s seat.

I believe we can all do better than the old normal. I challenge you to want better than that.

Before we all snap back into the old routines, I urge you to think hard about what is truly important to you. I would hope family is at the top of your list. Friends, activities you’re passionate about, institutions you truly care about – these should all be high on your list.

It is said that no one on their death bed confessed, “I wish I spent more time at the office.”

So please put your time and energy where you know it should be. We have a choice to be intentional about how and where we involve ourselves. It is, after all, always a choice – even when we allow outside forces to make that choice.

Another important lesson we’ve learned from this past year is that we really don’t have an infinite amount of time to fix things later. For more than 525 million Americans – including some dear ones from our midst – there is no later. Not one of us is guaranteed a tomorrow, so today is the time to start living as we want to live. Here are some suggestions.

Don’t miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them. You may not get another chance.

Take advantage of every opportunity to do or say something nice, something kind, now while you think of it.

Remember to be kind to yourself. Don’t put it off. Do something that brings you joy. Today.

Keep in mind that everyone is carrying some hidden burdens. Treat everyone with the grace they deserve.

You have far more agency about your life than you may think. Everything is a choice, including merely postponing a choice. You are the one in charge.

Be grateful. For everything.  Gratitude is a powerful force that blesses both the giver and the recipient. Thank YOU for reading this far, and for considering bringing more intention to your world each day.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *