HOPE: Corona Virus

I love a good disaster movie.  To be honest, it's one of my personal favorite types of movies.  Why?  Well, because they ask some interesting 'WHAT IF" questions that bend my thoughts about reality.  I suspect that most of us like a good disaster movie for the same reason.  Also, much like a horror movie, a disaster movie allows us to face something scary while sitting in a safe environment.  

For me, the best disaster movie is made up of the predictable formula: the scientist warns everyone, but is ignored.  Then the disaster begins and the main characters unite to survive.  And, of course, there are the people who panic and then get swallowed up by the earth.  In the safety of a movie theater, it's an enjoyable experience.  

What's happening for all of us right now, however, is not a movie.  We are living in a rather challenging situation.  There is no formula, and we cannot simply get in our cars and drive away.  Things are changing around us and they are doing so at an alarmingly rapid rate.

One of my colleagues always tells me that when we have a challenge, we need to begin by taking stock of where we are and what assets we possess.  That falls under the old cliche of "count your blessings" but it is a philosophy that works and one that I embrace.  So I wanted to focus this blog on what positive things we have right now.  

First of all, we live in a world that is more connected than it has ever been.  Right now I am reaching out to you.  Earlier today, I had several great conversations with people around the globe.  We are not alone.  We are not isolated.

Second, this down time may give us all a chance for a much needed self-correct.  We need to think about the environment.  We need to think about our lives.  For too long humanity has rushed around too busy to notice the world, and we are long overdue for downtime.  But here it is for us all.  Right now is your chance to simply just catch your breath and think.

Third, we have the opportunity to tell some amazing stories.  We may be feeling out of control at times, but we always always always have the right to tell our own story.  We here at Three Socks love stories.  Every day we encounter new ones and we stand amazed.  Right now I challenge you to think about the fact that you are living in an historic time period and you have the opportunity to tell this story in an amazing way.  You can give hope to others.  You can be a positive force even from your own home.  You can choose hope over panic.  As the mother of two daughters, I am constantly reminded how much they look to me for hope.  What we say and do impacts others and there is absolutely never a situation in which negativity and panic is productive.  This afternoon I was deeply saddened to see a woman I once greatly respected using her voice to instill panic in others.  She claimed she was "keeping it real."  To her I wish to say, "Do you know what else is real?  Hope.  Kindness.  Love.  Our future."  The only thing she is "keeping real" is her fear.

We here at Three Socks will be posting new things on this site to instill hope in others.  Help us.  Go ahead and comment below and share some hope with others.  Together we can outshine those who wish to fill that awful role in the disaster movies of "panicked crowd".  Together we will be just fine.