Bravely

Things are better.  They’ve begun to open restaurants and stores.  More people are out and we can gather in groups of 20 and everyone is gathering.  There is a feeling of joy in the air—of relief and resolve and determination.  It’s kind of amazing to witness.  Yes, our numbers are pretty much staying steady, but they’re not spiking like crazy (yet) and we have hope mixed with the rather grim knowledge that Covid-19 isn’t really going anywhere. We are just learning to live with it’s costs and demands.

It’s not comfortable.  Wearing a mask is literally suffocating and I feel like I’ve got deaf and dumb.  No one can hear me and I sure as heck can’t understand what anyone else is saying.  But I’m learning how to see the crinkles around peoples eyes to know they’re smiling.  I’m looking at eyes and eyebrows to sense emotions and I think I’m gettin good at it.  I think for the most part, I see sparkly crinkly eyes of smiles.

The bravery and optimism is amazing to me.  Each time I’ve got into a shop that’s newly opened or grocery stores that have continued to be opened, I sense a comeraderie that I’ve never felt.  They are grateful I’m there and I am ever so grateful they are opening their doors and I can finally get shorts for Finnegan, or socks for myself.  We all rejoice when we get most of what is on our grocery list and everyone seems just a little more kind and gentle with each other.  Yes, there are the rare moments of cranky displays, but I understand.  We all have our Covid moments.

I am reminded of all the bravery I saw after 9/11–men and women willing to risk their lives to dig out any survivors, handing out water and supplies, opening their homes and pockets to help.  When the smoke cleared all over the country, everyone went back to work, even with the threat of other terrorist attacks.  The terrorist will not win.  They will not make us afraid.  We will not be threatened or our course moved.  We will go on and we will thrive.

We will go on and we will thrive.

What are you facing during this time that makes you feel brave?

I am writing.  The voices are loud in my head that I lack talent and everyone out there is writing a book.  I am silencing them.  It doesn't matter, it makes me happy.  It makes me fee whole and complete and slightly giddy.  That in itself is the reward.  I have realized during this time of almost too much time, that I am lucky.  I have something that brings me joy.  I wonder how many of us have hidden talents, dreams, hopes, or aspirations that we push aside or hide because we are afraid they aren’t worth while or unworthy?

I’m here to give you a push.  

Be brave.

Remember it, uncover it, dust it off, pull it out, charge it—bring it out into the light.

Be brave.

Now is the time to make it happen.

I believe in you.

It’s going to be amazing.  

Just like you/mine/our future.