I was on a live discussion with Author/Philosopher Tom Morris last week and he noted that the first definition of “corona” in the dictionary is, “a small circle of light.”
While I am certainly not in a place to reflect fondly on this bizarre and tragic COVID era, I’m settling into the “new normal” routine and can begin to see some positives of my current situation.
My small circle of light today includes:
- I’m alive. I survived a COVID scare and have a new (healthier?) view of my own mortality.
- Appreciation of routine. I have not had a routine for years. Maybe ever. My schedule has always been too wild and unpredictable as I jaunt around the world on the speaking circuit. I’ve learned to like a stable flow of life. We have dinner at 7. What a concept.
- Two years ago my blood pressure was starting to get a little high. I had to take a medication to keep it under control. My life has slowed way down and I’ve been able to cut back (and perhaps cut out) the meds. I’m spending more time exercising, working in the garden (aka the squirrel feeder), and enjoying the majestic beauty of East Tennessee.
- Getting off the road has easily doubled my personal productivity. SO MUCH of my time was wasted in airports and jets and cabs. Do I ever want to go back to that???
- One of the ways I’m using my new time is to read. I am a prolific content creator so I haven’t normally had as much time to settle down and read a book like most people. I’m loving that.
- My dry cleaning bill is zero. : )
- I’m writing an exciting new book. It probably would not be happening right now without the virus in the world. Writing every day has become part of the routine. I’ve never had that luxury before. The book will be bold and beautiful.
- I’m healthier. I’m eating better, fresher, and with more consistency. I’ve lost weight. I exercise every day.
So … this has been an experience. I’ve had high highs and low lows. But the momentum is shifting a little, I think. It helps that my business has bounced back in a dramatic fashion, but other parts of my life are calming down, too.
Of course I miss friends, music festivals, and food in exotic places. I miss applause. I miss my passport which is lonely, buried in a dark drawer now. I can still feel sad if I dwell on what I’m missing and the potential scenarios ahead of us. A focus on doing something positive each day helps keep me in the “now” instead of the “what if.”
But six months into this, I can also appreciate the small circle of light instead of a seemingly endless eclipse.
Despite the chronic anxiety of our world, my urgent hope and prayer is that “corona” is starting to show up somewhere as a small circle of light for you, too. Is there something happening in this crisis that is creating a positive for you? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section.
Mark Schaefer is the executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions. He is the author of several best-selling digital marketing books and is an acclaimed keynote speaker, college educator, and business consultant. The Marketing Companion podcast is among the top business podcasts in the world. Contact Mark to have him speak to your company event or conference soon.
