The Pandemic Playbook: It's Time for the World to Change

Sitting and watching humanity in the midst of a global crisis is an interesting thing.

I'm analytical at the best of times, but seeing how people deal with the chaos we find ourselves in the middle of is fascinating, heartwarming and at times horrifying.

The uber religious who gather, despite every warning to not do so, thinking that in their coming together they will be spared the disease that moves aggressively through our world. I can understand the desire to gather, as there is great comfort in it. Not so much during a global pandemic of this nature however where our very survival is based on keeping our distance from one another.

There are others who disavow the scientists that are working tirelessly to save us, seek conspiracy around every corner and look for anyone to blame for our woes. I applaud their creative energy, though I do find the neverending out there theories exhausting at times. Then there are those who seek to terrify everyone with their clickbait and their fear mongering. Those that would profit off the misery and suffering of others, hoping to pad email lists or pocketbooks fueled by greed and corruption. This is scary as hell, no one is disputing that. But I have a lot of disdain for those who would needlessly put fear into others during this time in order to gain.

And there are those that are helping, running into the fray with eyes and hearts wide open wanting to help. So often they find themselves alone in all of this, those on the frontlines of the battlefield of this global war; disturbingly unequipped for the battle which they must now fight.

This is a dark night of the soul for humanity, of that there is no doubt.

It's a lot to take in and a lot to make sense of. There is great wisdom in all of this, although it can be hard to see in the darkness. How we need to be more self sufficient. How the old system was broken and not working. How we need a new path forward. It highlights the hypocrites, the greedy and the flat out liars among the peasants and Kings alike. The world leaders that are so self centered and blind that they should never hold office again, and frankly I hope when all this is over are held accountable for their treason against humanity.

I am reminded of the words from "Message from the Hopi Elders Prophecy":

"You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered…

Where are you living? What are you doing? What are your relationships? Are you in right relation? Where is your water?

Know your garden. It is time to speak your truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for your leader. This could be a good time."

That's a lot to absorb, especially in the middle of all this chaos.

It's time to start looking to our own lives and what needs to be shifted. We shouldn't need a global shut down to ground us in our houses in order to follow our dreams and do what we want. I keep hearing people saying what we should do with this time or how they would spend it following their dreams. Well if that isn't a wake up call to look at our their lives and decide how they want to live it, then I don't know what is. There shouldn't have to be a crisis of this magnitude to give ourselves permission to do what we want with our lives.

Perhaps in the wake of all this we need to move forward and build a new world, for ourselves and the planet. I'm not trying to start any new movement or anything, it's just time we lived from our truth. It's time for a big shake up at the foundations of society. It makes me sick that in the middle of all this there are front line workers without proper protection. We have robotic vacuums and self parking cars but nurses don't have protective gear? What the hell is that? That doesn't even make sense. How can we call ourselves an advanced society when those than need go without? Corrupt dictators are disrupting supply chains leaving those that are in need more isolated than ever. We're failing at the basic aspects of being human.

Maybe I am talking about a new movement. Maybe that's the root of the Pandemic Playbook after all, shaking the old foundations in order to give birth to a new world.

Because the old one wasn't working. Maybe at the end of all this i'll get a parcel of land and start a community. My coping mechanism during all of this has been to nurture my love of gardening, planting weird and wonderful things on my windowsill as I wait for Winter to leave. Who knows, maybe in my Utopian dream village I'll be some wise sage herbal healer and provider of balms and salves.

One glaring thing this crisis shows is where the hero's truly are in our society. The health care workers. The first responders. The ones who provide food and supplies. Those that put it all on the line every day. For them we need to be eternally grateful, for the price they are paying is with their lives. How can we repay this sacrifice? Stop squandering our own existence.

When this is over, I want you to promise me one thing.

Start to live in alignment with the truth of who you are and what you want. Be the change you want to see in the world. And please, stop waiting for tomorrow. Because tomorrow might never come. This has shown that the old way was a house of cards and we need to be what we want from this moment on. The time has come to rewrite the playbook and create the future we want.

I realize this is a vast departure from my normal blogs. These are dark times and I find myself thinking things in solitude that I want to share, however difficult or odd they are at times as I know many of us are questioning everything right now. I find a touch of solace in being able to voice my experience in the midst of this confinement.  I'm grateful we're all alive to continue to debate our different thoughts. I'm sure some will stop talking to me because of my views, and that's ok I understand. Not like I can have them over for tea anytime soon anyways.

Stay safe everyone. We are, as always, in this together.