We are more than two months into quarantine with the COVID 19 pandemic and some parts of the world have started to lift their restrictions. These include some of the hardest hit countries in the world including China, many European countries and several states in the US. As we slowly start to move back towards a semblance of normalcy, most of us realize that our lives will never be the same as they once were.
As we start to transcend the quagmire that COVID 19 is leaving and has left behind in its fiery path, we all need to start looking ahead to a future which still remains somewhat uncertain. As we do this we cannot forget what COVID 19 brought us, which is time to be home with our loved ones and, also at times, by ourselves to reflect on where we are, where we’ve been and where we are going.
As we start to rise from the ashes of the aftermath of the pandemic, the most important thing we can do is to shed what no longer serves. There is nobody who does not have something that they need to let go. It could be a toxic habit, such as smoking, a job which no longer fulfills them, a relationship which no longer serves them or something simpler such as a negative pattern of thinking. If COVID 19 has taught us anything, it is to slow down, stop and reflect on our lives.
I encourage each one of you to scrutinize your lives in this time you’ve been given and find one thing that no longer serves you and that you need to shed. You can call it spring cleaning for your soul. I will make this personal by sharing what I’m letting go of.
I have three adolescent children who get a lot of homework who often ask me for help. I used to complain about helping them late into the night because it cut into my sleep and took time away from my projects as well. As they have been sheltered at home for the last two months and their school transitioned to online, I saw firsthand how important their education is to them and how much they miss going to school, sitting in class and spending time with their friends.
They work just as hard as they did when they were going to school and have continued to ask for my help. This has allowed me to get a glimpse of their perspective and how much they are grieving what they no longer have. This is why I no longer complain when they ask for my help because I realize how seriously they take their education and how important it is for me to support them in any way I can through this challenging time.
I have let go of any complaining I used to do about helping them with their home work. Now, I encourage you to look at your own life and see what you need to shed in order to rise from the ashes of COVID 19 and boldly move forward in your life. By doing this you will feel lighter and happier and free up time in your life for the things that truly matter.
Nauman Naeem MD