We have everything we need to survive a crisis:
Campbells Soup Can at Hotel Sofitel, Los Angeles - All We Need is Love - © Matthew Ferrara
Patience
Listening
Compromise
Creativity
Generosity
Gratitude
These six ingredients are in unlimited supply inside of each of us. And they can be used on ourselves, shared with others and applied to difficult times once we realize that there’s no way to resolve “whose fault it is.”
Sometimes a crisis is just a crisis: Take it from me, a two-time cancer survivor: There’s not always an answer to “why” a problem is happening to us - at least not an answer that will get us through it right now. There’s not always any good coming from finding “someone to blame” or “someone who needs to fix this” when the person with the needed resources to get through this is Me.
In the last week we’ve seen a lot of people who are helping each other and doing the best they can. We’ve also seen an unfortunate amount of strife and anxiety and separation from the media, public officials and sadly, people we may know who are making things more difficult than they have to be. There’s no perfect way to react to a difficult situation. We’re stressed, worried, financially impacted, and our goals disrupted. But for most of us, we should remember that we’re safe in our homes, have food in the cabinet, friends and neighbors who are ready to lend a hand. We have electricity and water and we’re still connected online.
Most of us are even okay enough to help those less fortunate, too - in whatever little ways we can.
We will get through this - we always do.
We will cure it scientifically - maybe more.
We can’t control the reasons - it’s a fool’s errand.
But we can control what we bring to the solution.
Thank you to everyone who is doing their best. Thank you to people who are carrying us through these times- our medical professionals and scientists and responsible journalists, especially. And don’t forget to thank yourself, too, because every time you have patience, listen, consider, and find a middle ground to an unexpected part of this crisis, you’re doing your part in getting us all cured.