Humankind Is On A Big, Fat, Time-Out
18 Wednesday Mar 2020
Written by Michelle in Better Behaviour, Life's Ups and Downs, Thoughts on everything
I had a thought over coffee. Humankind is on a big, fat time-out.
I think we deserved it.
Did you notice how we were treating one another? It’s been happening for years. The bickering, rudeness, downright meanness we showed our fellow women and men. I quit writing because, as a behavior-based writer, I couldn’t bear to look at the train-wreck anymore. The well of encouraging words ran dry.
Then, this global crisis arose. People are frightened. We are unsure and like two-year olds, when we were unsure and unsteady, we cling to one another…only now we do it from 6-feet away.
Ha! We can’t hide our true natures…but can we hang on to them? (Click to Tweet) Kindness has spiraled into control. We’re focusing on love and embracing the good. We’re encouraging each other, celebrating acts of kindness, rallying our brave and indispensable healthcare workers and first responders; we’re holding one another up and helping each other laugh. We’re telling our neighbors where to find essential goods and sharing. The lines have blurred of any label the could possible divide us. We are human again. I’m so deeply encouraged. I’ve finally let go of the resentment I was feeling for our collective nastiness. Beyond that forgiveness, I’ve found a place where I’m genuinely proud of us and our concern outside ourselves…outside in the global community, even.
The question is, how do we capture this? How do we keep it whole for the future? It definitely begins with a sense of personal willingness. I’d encourage people to pay attention, and I don’t mean to the news and the virus – though that can be an important informational component. Let’s examine our behaviour, our collective and individual behaviour. When it’s loving and tender, anchor that to a feeling. Capture it deep in your core so you can replicate it at will…and will in your heart that we are human tomorrow and all the days after; for each is a gift to be joyfully celebrated with gratitude and love.
Michelle Andres is a writer and artist who cultivates her own Well–Lived 
Life by drinking in the beauty around her, following her passions, respecting others and doing her best to own her own dookie.
9 Comments
March 18, 2020 at 8:07 pm
What A gift to read your words as I sit home with my two dogs working remotely. I get to lead my staff in helping to serve the elderly, vulnerable, and low-income in our community but alas I am one of the vulnerable that has to stay isolated.
I love being by my ownself for the very reasons you wrote about above.
I so hope we capture this.
Thank you.
March 18, 2020 at 9:19 pm
Thank you for sharing your story, Margery and thank you for protecting our most at-risk citizens. My parents are thousands of miles away and I worry about them. We will endure this virus and hopefully take some good lessons into the future.
March 19, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Glad to see you back! I agree. It is like some higher power has hit the reset button on a society that lost sight of its humanity.
March 19, 2020 at 2:55 pm
That’s good news isn’t it, Susan? Now, we have to work together to not only survive, but thrive afterward. Let’s spread the spirit! It’s gonna be AWESOME!
March 24, 2020 at 6:59 am
Sadly, nastiness and friendliness are always “nicely” mixed, so that we were human as well yesterday ! And will be to-morrow, for that matter… Let’s wish for the best, though, as you do…
March 24, 2020 at 4:28 pm
Nastiness, being unnecessary, can be tempered with patience and understanding. It all depends if the individual wants to do the work.
March 25, 2020 at 8:26 am
Yes, it’s up to each and everyone, first, to do the work… Bon courage, Michelle, pour ces temps d’épreuve !
January 28, 2024 at 7:04 pm
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May 8, 2024 at 9:55 pm
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