𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗡𝗢T 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗧!

I’ve heard it said that "we are all in the same boat", but it's really not like that. We are in the same terrible storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.  And as with any storm there are variations in intensity and outcomes.

For some, a quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in thr flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis with anxiety and fear of the unknown possibly looming for months.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness, even depression. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than when they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.  Many have no benefit, no savings.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw nothing, zip, $0.  Many are forgotten homeless and the poor throughout the world.  Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.  Many are turning to food banks for the first time in their life.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who would break the quarantine and increase the risk of a resurgence of the virus.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling, while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.  Some are health care workers, our new national heroes.

Some have already experienced sickness and near death from the virus, some have lost friends and family from it and others are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Some don't believe this is really that big of a deal, others don’t believe it at all.

Some have faith in God and Nature expecting miracles during this disastrous storm of 2020. Soon to be over.  Others say the worst is yet to come, even longer and maybe stronger.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a tough time when our perceptions and needs can be completely different.

Each of us that survives will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, but actually searching and seeing.  Because .... We are all on different ships during this storm weathering different conditions and experiencing a very different journey.

This storm is not over yet.  For some it may end soon for others it will rage on for some time.  A tale of many boats, many different ports in the same storm of a lifetime.  Hopefully the calming some now see is because we are passing the peak and not just entering just into the eye wall of the hurricane that is not finished!

Stay safe old friends....

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Edited, Author Unknown