I’ve lost track of how many times a day I’ve been saying “what a weird fucking time to be alive.” COVID-19 is here, the entire world is feeling its effects one way or another. It seems all of our lives are being disrupted. We’re scared for the health of our loved ones, we’re scared for our communities, we’re scared for our own livelihoods. We have a lot of fears.
How will we pay our bills and take care of our families? What if I get sick? What if I unknowingly transmit the disease to someone who is at a high risk of serious complications, or death? The social, economic, financial implications and uncertainty can be overwhelming.
I don’t have the answers to these questions, I wish I did. I don’t know what the next days, weeks, months will bring. I do know a few things though. Most importantly, our hopes and dreams cannot die. We need to stay positive, now more than ever. This is what we’ve been training for. In an effort to do so. I’m going to use today’s article to dream a little bit, and to encourage the rest of you to do the same.
I want to imagine a scenario, where every single positive thing that could possibly arise from the COVID-19 pandemic has all happened. I want to stay in the mentality, that everything that can possibly go right can and will. This is a practice of trying to see things differently, of dreaming big and getting into the mindset that allows humans to make something truly great out of any situation. I do not mean to make light of a very serious situation, rather I want to cultivate hope. Things can and will get better.
Please enjoy, my dream scenario.
In the weeks and months since COVID-19 hit the world, a lot of unexpected change happened. None of us knew how positive this all was in the long run.
We never imagined how practicing social distancing could bring us all together.
We realized how deeply we were all connected.
We spent more time with our families.
Our relationships became more precious. We began to appreciate each other on a deeper level. We developed new, creative ways to connect.
We got to meet our neighbors, and create deep friendships with people who had previously been strangers.
A worldwide community began to see past their differences, to work together and make the world a better place.
Advances in science and technology made it possible for humans to live longer, healthier and happier lives.
Universal access to healthcare became a human right. We started taking care of each other.
A universal basic income was established, systems were put in place to protect and help people.
This ended poverty.
Crime was essentially eradicated.
This was the end of war and violence.
We all drank more water.
Everyone had a bidet.
Pollution became a thing of the past.
Everyone washed their hands more often.
Our homes were organized and clean.
We started using technology to connect to each other, to improve lives rather than zoning out and disconnecting from reality.
We broke our addiction to social media.
People learned to slow down, to do one thing at a time.
We learned to surrender, to let go of what’s out of our control and focus on what we can change.
Our relationship with food was fundamentally changed. We learned to cook creative, delicious meals with limited ingredients. We stopped wasting food.
We ate more mindfully, enjoying every bite. We stopped eating when we were full.
People ate less junk food, and exercised more often. Our health was optimized.
People started creating less waste, reusing and recycling became the norm.
We all developed a deep respect for the previously unsung heroes of our society. Service workers, medical staff, postal workers, retail workers, teachers and everyone else gained a deep level of respect.
With a universal basic income in place as a safety net, people were able to work from their soul, creating big contributions to the world.
We started living in a state of creation, instead of survival.
Musicians and artists were valued and supported on a higher level. People started buying art and records again.
Systems and infrastructure were put in place to handle future crisis quickly and effectively.
Humans became healthier: mentally, physically and emotionally.
We all learned patience.
We started living for the process, rather than the results.
We began living in the present moment.
We told our people we loved them more often.
We began to understand what life is like for those less fortunate than us. Compassion became the new norm.
We all fought less.
Our differences became celebrated, instead of feared.
We stopped overworking, and had time for self-care, relationships, family and playtime.
We took our dogs on more walks.
We stopped being busy for the sake of being busy.
We built a better world for our children.
We became comfortable with uncertainty.
We realized we were stronger than we knew.
We were all nicer to each other.
We gained a deeper appreciation for life and for each other.
We learned to trust.
We reconnected to our basic goodness.
We saw that we are greater than our circumstances and environment.
We found ways to understand, appreciate, and love each other despite our differences
We learned exactly the lessons we needed to learn.
Living with calm minds and open hearts, we were always ready for whatever the day might bring.
This can be real.
What are your dreams?
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