COVID-19: An Opportunity

COVID-19 has officially taken over. It has taken over the world, but more so taken over the internet and our own minds. It has taken over every conversation and has wreaked havoc over many social norms. About a week ago, just before this really hit, I had this thought: “What if this is an opportunity?”

I have found that chaos and crisis are two forces that can reveal people’s hearts. (I won’t say that is 100% true because context also matters.) But I think we have all watched people all over the internet and in real life react to COVID-19 in a huge range of ways - many ways that are pretty unhelpful. How someone chooses to react shows a deep part of them. If they are stocking up in extreme ways, they are probably feeling a lot of fear. If all they have done is make jokes on their instagram story, maybe they are trying to avoid any and all fear altogether. If they haven’t said anything at all, maybe they are so overwhelmed that they do not even know where to start or fear the world lashing out at their every opinion.

As someone who works with a group of vulnerable people on a weekly/daily basis, I am definitely still trying to find a good middle ground. I feel in a lot of ways that I need to be hyper vigilant because I am caring for a building full of people who are immunocompromised. But I also don’t want to give into fear. Where does a healthy fear exist? 

The place I have landed is “opportunity”. I think that this word is applicable to most, if not all, of our situations. And I think it can be an incredibly healthy outlook on the world around us.

COVID-19 is an opportunity to care for others deeply, whether that be people with whom you are isolated or not. Whether you are a parent with children who are going to be home, or someone writing about your feelings on the internet, you have an opportunity to care for others deeply. Cherish the extra time with your children. Reach out to people who are alone. Remember your friends who struggle with mental illness. Shop at small businesses. Check in on people who may be experiencing racism right now. Drop off meals to people who are working in roles of emergency response or frontline care workers. This time is a time to learn to be more mindful of the people around you.

COVID-19 is an opportunity to dig deep within yourself. Time is a gift that we can never get back. How are you going to spend yours? Are there creative projects that you “just don’t have time for”? Now is the time. Read those books that you’ve been meaning to read. Learn a new skill. Take a class online. Reorganize/purge your space. Push yourself creatively. Lean into the things you are struggling with. You have time to do some personal discovery so what are you waiting for?

COVID-19 is an opportunity to decide the kind of person you want to be. Chaos and crisis are going to bring a lot out of each of us. Now is a perfect opportunity to start deciding what it is going to bring out of you. Are you going to push back against fear and make sure that your neighbours have enough toilet paper? Are you going to check in with those who are vulnerable and make sure that they have everything that they need? For the eternal jokesters, are you going to start to lean in and see the impact it is having on the people around you? Are you willing to have your heart broken a bit for someone other than yourself? There are large groups of extremely vulnerable people around you. You don’t have to choose to self-isolate for you. You can choose to do that to help protect those vulnerable people.

Every challenge, difficulty, and crisis is an opportunity. That is not a question. The opportunity is right in front of you. It all depends what you want to do with the opportunity in front of you. The possibilities are pretty endless. But also, please go wash your hands.