It’s been a hell of a few weeks and it looks like it will continue for a bit. At the risk of sounding both blasé and alarmist at once, I think the planet is trying to tell us something.
We are on the verge of a sixth mass extinction with species experiencing lights out at alarming rates and any potential for rebound numbering in the millions (!) of years.
In the process, we have created so much pollution with our lifestyles that our climate has become inhospitable and our CO2 levels will reach critical mass in the next couple decades without a complete overhaul of how we do business.
We’ve gotten into an only money matters mentality, and the stock market’s precipitous weeks’ long plunge not only put a hurting on most people’s retirement funds but eroded faith in the economy. That event may keep us working longer until stocks rebound, but what, really, is the stock market?
Certainly, not a physical, tangible entity, but like everything else in this 3-D world — even things you can hold in your hands — it’s an idea and the success or failure of that idea is based upon how people perceive it.
Are we confident or fearful? Do we believe in our government or do we think it will fail us? No place is the process played out more quickly than in the stock market. It doesn’t make sense that something worth $1 one day is worth $0.50 the next unless you look at it through this lens of perception.
So what is happening??
We rush, rush, rush from thing to thing never really enjoying or being present for any of it, leaving us breathless and looking for meaning in our lives which seem physically full, but spiritually bereft as we ignore The Power of Now.
And what all this is telling us is that the world needs to change, not in some superficial new hairstyle kind of way, but as in a fundamental shift in the way we interact and live, in our interpersonal and business relationships, in the way we treat our families, each other, and ourselves, and since we weren’t able to find the time to get to it, along comes a virus to gives us all the time we need, forcing us into this shift — and that’s all this is, a shift, in our consciousness, our way of thinking and living, of learning, and loving.
A bit of Gratitude goes a long way.
If you are working, give thanks for your job. I am lucky to have a portable job so for me, work-life goes on in my home instead of my office. For those of you who are home without work, I can’t imagine the level of anxiety you must be feeling right now (actually, I’ve been furloughed a few times so I have felt this level of anxiety before), but perhaps you can use this time to think about what your hands can do that will benefit your better well-being and that of those around you.
Can you plant a little garden? Learn to play the ukulele? Clean out your closet? Shine a light on the most neglected parts of your world and give it an overhaul? What are the things you put off until you have absolutely nothing left to do or until you find a few hours of free time? Those are the things you want to tackle. This is your free time so use it. If you view it less as isolation and more as a Roto-Rooter for the Soul, you can work miracles in your life.
[Vertical garden at 30th St. Station in Philadelphia]
My sister and her husband have decided to build a small vertical garden that they can hang on the wall. They’ve been talking about this for years. Is there anything you’ve been thinking about but haven’t had time for? Now’s your hour.
[Photo credit – Brethern Village Retirement Community]
If you are safe in your home right now, give thanks, because the homeless population is among the most vulnerable among us, and also one of the most likely places to transmit the virus. It’s hard to shelter-in-place when you don’t have a shelter.
March 22 was World Water Day. Do you have water running to your tap? If so, you are better off than approximately 2 billion people worldwide who don’t have access to basic sanitation so give thanks. You may be stuck in your house, but at least you’re not thirsty and you don’t have to defecate outside.
Are your lungs working? If so, then you are in better shape than the almost 700,000 people who have contracted Covid-19 to date. Give thanks for the alveoli — the tiny airsacs in the lungs which allow for the gas exchange, replacing carbon dioxide and flooding every inch of your body with life-giving oxygen. People with Covid-19 can’t get their lungs to absorb the oxygen so even being on a ventilator may not help you.
And while we’re on body parts, give thanks to your body for keeping you healthy, for fighting off invaders and keeping your immune system humming along. It’s possible that you come into contact with dozens of viruses every day that result in barely a sniffle. You can thank your immune system for that. And if you want to check out some great immune boosting stuff, go to Fungi Perfecti and listen to a Paul Stamets TEDtalk or read all about how mushrooms might just save us.
[My husband’s indoor mushroom-growing project –Lion’s Mane — great for your immune system.]
And since you have some extra time, maybe you’ll want to take a look at the movie: Fantastic Fungi streaming here (scroll down to find it).
So what do we do to weather this period of volatility and uncertainty, of seismic and unprecedented shifts in consciousness that none of us has ever witnessed? The answer will be specific to each of us, but I think there are some common themes we can all adhere to:
Instead of hoarding (toilet paper and whatever is next), choose giving.
Instead of loneliness, choose levity.
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Instead of solitude, institute “bring your dog or cat to work” day.
Enjoy the shorter commute.
Take time for walks.
Stay connected.
Practice walking meditation.
Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.
To keep the anxiety of a Covid-19 reality at bay, remember that we live in a 3D world, but we come from spirit and in spirit, all is always well. In spirit is also where the magic happens so take some time to meditate on the kind of world you would like to be living in when this is all over.
Nothing happens unless we first dream it into being. Now is the time to dream our better world into reality. The sun will rise. What kind of day will it rise upon for you?
And, most importantly, in a world where you can be anything, be kind.
Sent with love to all species in times of crisis and otherwise. Be safe and well.
pam lazos 3.29.20
Green Life Blue Water 
Such an important post, especially as frustration can grow…I’ve talked to Bo about starting a garden (after the snow comes IN DAYS. Flippin’ Wisconsin weather) but then articles like this worry me–
https://www.michiganradio.org/post/fruit-and-vegetable-plants-nonessential-under-governors-order
–because our governor does so like to just copy whatever other governors do around us. It’s frightening. All the more reason, yes, to focus inward and develop outward, and keeping the smiles a’comin’ on our kiddos’ faces. A most blessed Easter to you and your loved ones! xxxxxx
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Yes, now we see who the real leaders are and who the followers are. Much love and happy Easter to you, too, Jean. This will be the first Easter my family is not all together. So sad, but what is the alternative? A million blessings on you and yours. xoxo
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Hope all is well. Take care.
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Thanks, Kathe, and you, too!
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Loved the song parody stayin’ inside! Thanks Pam great post. We’re definitely NOT going to accept ‘normal’ or ‘business as usual’ once this virus has done its thing … I really hope that profound and beneficial changes occur.xx
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From your mouth to God’s ears. 🥰
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Thank you Pam for sharing this great story at this time of global corona crisis. Keep up the good work.
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You, too, Susan!
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Thank you so much and I will try!
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Very wise and appropriate words. Be in the now and do not obsess over what truly is not important! And be kind for heavens sakes! Take care!
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Thanks, and you, too! 🥰
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Wonderful post Pam! I agree the Universe is screaming at us and I wonder if we’ll open our ears and do something and learn from this! But as long as we in the U.S. have this group leading our country we won’t see any learning happening, or changes because they are all deaf and greedy and very dumb.. So keep well and keep sane and count the things we are grateful for.
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Say it isn’t so, Michele!😫
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Beaaaauuuuutiful!!!! So much goodness. The photos are wonderful. Sending love and appreciation. :)) xoxoxo
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Thanks, Nadine!😍
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Hi Pam – We commented on the Flint Water Crisis the other day – the doctor who brought this story to light now has the Coronavirus, though she minimized her symptoms. She is considered a hero in many respects:
https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/dr-mona-hero-of-flint-water-crisis-has-coronavirus
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Oh, I’m so sorry. Many people are going to die before their time, it seems.
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Yes, sadly true – she is a hero here in Michigan, especially for Flint. It sounds like she is strong and healthy, so just a temporary setback for her (hopefully).
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Thank God for small miracles!
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Great post Pam!
Mother Earth may be sitting back on her heels and saying to herself “the earthlings are now going to appreciate what is around them – they will celebrate this Earth Day #50 like the first one back in 1970, for they have become too self-absorbed in watching their devices and not looking around them.” Now is when we all need to take a detour and “smell the roses” no matter how cliche it may sound. Much lamenting over lost sports or events has been done. In Detroit, it was to be the inaugural Auto Show in June 2020 after decades of holding it in January. The Auto Show was cancelled and instead FEMA will make the huge cavernous building into a field hospital and it will be as such for six months. Gulp.
As to World Water Day, well here in Michigan there were so many people in arrears for their water bills in Detroit that last year the City decided to turn off the water to many Detroit homes until they started making payments – they were not even required to pay the entire bill, but needed to consent to a payment plan. Detroiters were outraged and said “water is a basic need!” When COVID-19 reared its ugly head, homeowners’ taps were turned on so they could wash their hands in accordance with safe practice – maybe it didn’t work so well, or people forgot how to wash their hands, since Detroit is the hot spot in the State of Michigan for Coronavirus cases. Sigh.
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Oh my gosh, that’s horrible. And you guys were on the front lines of the lead in water crisis, too, in Flint. 😫
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Yes, the Flint water crisis was terrible and that is about 75 miles from Detroit, but there are still worries and testing being done (or supposed to be done – you would think they would be less lackadaisical about the testing). Once they went back to getting their water from Detroit again, things were improved, but there are parts of Flint that still have the dreaded lead pipe systems in older buildings and homes, and even with filtration systems in place, or even simple filters at the taps, there is still some leaching into the water by the lead service pipes. They still monitor children who drank that water before the correction to ensure they are okay. Yes, it was a real mess.
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A sad commentary on our society. The mayor — the one who allowed them to take water from the Flint river even though he knew what was happening — should have gone to jail.
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I agree, and especially the Governor who is now out of office.
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Great blog post!
Sent from my iPad
>
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🥰🥰🥰
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Well said here. So much has gone wrong all at once across the world and while I’m not thrilled by any of this I do think it’s an opportunity to re-evaluate what is important. I know I’m doing that, but I don’t know how you convince our leaders, such as they are, to do that. And without permanent systemic changes, I fear things won’t change for the better, permanently. Still, I do my best to keep on keeping on a la Matthew 7:12.
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And that’s all any one of us can do, Ally – our best. 😘🥰👏
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Reblogged this on From guestwriters and commented:
Human beings have grown away from nature and from the Divine Creator.
Their debauchery and carelessness about how to deal with the things before them are now killing them.
It has come so far that humans are to blame for the extinction of many beautiful creatures. According to a 2014 study, current extinction rates are 1,000 times higher than they would be if humans weren’t around.
All through history we also can see when there were too many people able to destroy their environment, nature took charge and eliminated lots of people. In the past, there were many awful battles, wars taking the lives of many. After the Great War it did not seem yet enough. The influenza pandemic of 1918–19, also called Spanish influenza pandemic or Spanish flu, was the most severe influenza outbreak of the 20th century and, in terms of total numbers of deaths, among the most devastating pandemics in human history. It resulted in an estimated 25 million deaths, though some researchers have projected that it caused as many as 40–50 million deaths. Nothing compared to the Sars-CoV- infection. Sars and Ebola frightened many, but now the Sars-CoV-2 or CoViD-19 brings these 21st-century people also on their knees, fearing for their lives.
Today the majority of people have become so materialistic their first concerns is to protect the economy. Still, too many politicians dare to tell their citizens they should continue to go to work and have the factories working, not having to be so afraid to come close to each other. There are even politicians who do find more money should be spent on the economy instead of providing health workers with the necessary protection.
We can only hope this pandemic is going to awaken many and bringing many changes to how we shall go to work and move around.
Fundamental shifts in the way we interact and live, in our interpersonal and business relationships, in the way we treat our families, each other, and ourselves, shall have to take place.
A few months ago most people took not the time to think about their way of life and how mankind played with mother nature. Since many weren’t able to find the time to get to meditate about our way of living, along comes this virus, which certain politicians still do not take seriously enough to take the necessary protection measures.
Where there is a lockdown, people now can find time to come back to themselves. It does not seem to be easy for many, to be confronted with so much time for themselves. But they shall have to rethink their lifestyle at the moment. CoViD-19 gives us all the time we need, forcing us into this shift = a shift, in our consciousness, our way of thinking and living, of learning, and loving.
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Amen. 🙏
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Lovely post, Pam. Sobering and uplifting, that’s quite an achievement.
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Aw, thanks, Cath!😍
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What can I say except that there are ducks in the Trevi Fountain and dolphins in the canals of Venice and this post is brilliant.
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Yes! And the CO2 levels are down globally so there’s that!!🥰
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Honestly I am not doing what we call the pofatchy twat here but the world has become such a greedy place. These blasted cruise ships polluting our oceans, way too many planes our skies. Noticeably both China and Northern Italy were heavy on the air pollution. Then there’s the cars. I look at my sister who I don’t get on with and ask why do this couple who are nearly 80 need three big jaguars when she does not drive? What is all of that about but greed and show and no thought at all of what we leave our grandchildren and their children one day ..of course they don’t have any grandchildren . We went to book a wee weekend break in Prague, a yearly if not two yearly wee treat–cancelled now obvi– and I was shocked to be offered any one of six flights flying that day from one airport alone. I thought.. Why do we need all these flights going to one city every day???? And this is just one airport and one city. there’s also flights going to all the other major cities? People will say tourism, business, work, well we are needing collectively to look at all of that. We have become a greedy people gobbling the planet’s resources.
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We certainly are kindred souls, my dear. Thank you for that. 🥰❤️
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Also in all of this what is screamingly obvious is that if you are going to live this way then the biggest threat is not war, it’s a virus. So while all this money is being made and the planet destroyed nothing has been put into preparing for the event we are now witnessing. I see that interestingly in terms of beds per head of pop, the US, the UK, Italy and Spain are down at the bottom of the table. This whole lockdown biz is in place because we have not put that money in and in the absence of equipment, health staff are being faced with making choices and governments are shielding themselves from that basic fact by doing damage limitation. Ironically, certainly here where they have beat the NHS with a big stick for years, they are now spending billions more than they would have on that, to simply keep businesses a float, people afloat in a knee jerk reaction. And if they do start testing people properly NOW and taking the action those on top of this mess are, this lockdown wreak terrible damage on people.
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Penny wise and pound foolish, eh? And they thought no one would notice them putting profits over people.🙄
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Well folks have and how.
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😘😘😘
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I share Pauline’s view. An excellent post, Pam. You say it all ❤
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Aw, thanks, Rosaliene. ❤️
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A troubling, confusing, dangerous and uncertain time. And it descended upon us in a flash.
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Ah, it’s terrible, Neil, but you shouldn’t stop the things that keep you sane like walking!!
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Great post Pam – I think you covered all possible points! ❤
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I’m sure there are a zillion others in that alternate reality, Pauline!
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😀
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We must be on the same wavelength, I woke up thinking of the same title as your post…thank you for sharing your thoughts today and I love the positive messages throughout!
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OMG, that’s hilarious! And thank you for the kind words. Stay well!
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My pleasure!
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Beautifully stated, Pam! I was mostly housebound anyway so it’s not as big of an adjustment for me to stay home.
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I think that even in those circumstances it’s the lack of the freedom to choose that is making us all so tired. And also the weighing of the risk factors when you do need to go out. I’ve been thinking about going to the grocery store for days, but maybe I’ll wait until I absolutely have to because to have to think about everything you touch and everything you breathe is a lot of work!
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Good article and thanks for the book recommendations. I’m putting that first book into my wish list!
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I am just reading it now, but it’s very inspiring!
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Wonderfully put. Permission to re-blog?
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Of course, and thank you, Mari. Stay well and healthy!
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