A matter of perspective

By Daneen James 

In the wake of the COVID 19 global crisis, we're more aware than ever, life can change in an instant. Suddenly, the life we knew has been suspended, indefinitely. What we planned, wanted and hoped to do must be deferred or at least altered. Yet, inherent in every crisis is opportunity. This crisis is no different.

Inevitably, during this time, most of us will likely take some time to reflect, assess and examine our lives. When you look closely, you'll see a crossroads. An opportunity to make decisions that can be a turning point in your life and our world. 

What will you do?  How will you choose? After reading the stories below, you may think differently(https://www.marcandangel.com/2015/08/19/30-quick-stories-that-will-make-you-think-differently/). 

Life Lesson 
On his 27th birthday a young man wrote a suicide letter. He was ready to go through with it, when his girlfriend showed up at his apartment and told him she was pregnant. She saved his life. Suddenly he felt like he had something to live for. Today, that young man's pregnant girlfriend is his wife. They have been happily married for 19 years.  And the baby, his daughter, now a 21-year-old college student, has two younger brothers. Every year on his birthday, the man re-reads his suicide letter as a reminder to be thankful – thankful he got a second chance at life.

The Heart Goes On 
Nearly five years after her husband’s death, a woman receives an unexpected knock at her front door. It was a beautiful couple and their three kids. The man smiled and said, “Your husband was my heart donor.  He saved my life.  Not a single day has gone by that I don’t pray for him and think of you.  Thank you! "

From Where I Sit
There was a group incoming freshman on a tour of their "soon to be" college campus. Amongst the group was a young man in a wheelchair. He was exceptionally friendly and never stopped smiling.  His positive energy was absolutely contagious. The group learned after the tour that he had a scholarship to play basketball before a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. When asked about the accident, he responded, “It didn’t ruin my life, it just changed my circumstances.  I’m happy to be here with you right now, with so many opportunities in front of me.”

What matters most
A woman rushed to the hospital after getting a call from her twin sister. After being in a coma for almost a year, her sister was still weak but surprisingly coherent. The siblings spent the entire night together, talking and laughing. The woman was elated to share the holiday season and enter the New Year with her sister back at her side. You'd never know a month before the accident, the twins got in a ridiculous argument and didn’t speak to each other for that entire month. Today, neither one of them can even remember what made them so angry.  

Joy from Pain 
During a conversation with his daughter, a 71-year-old dad talked about living and growing through adversity. He said, “It’s been my experience that most people aren’t truly happy until they’ve had many reasons to be sad.  I believe it's because it takes all of those bad days and hardships to teach us how to truly appreciate what we have.  It builds our resilience.”

The Best You 
A woman recalls the relationship advise her grandfather gave her more than two decades ago,  “Honestly, the moment I stopped trying to find the right woman, and started trying to become the right man, your grandmother walked up to me and said, ‘Hello.’”

The Truth of Life 
​While interviewing a terminally ill woman for a school project, a high student tentatively asked “What is it like to wake up every morning and know that you are dying?”  “Well,” the woman replied, “What is it like to wake up every morning and pretend that you are not?”

This life is not forever, every moment we get is a gift. God willing, though unprecedented and uncharted, this time will pass and fade into memory.  In the meantime, there are lessons to be learned. Lessons of how to live and love differently, better. Reminders to pursue lives that reflect our purpose more fully. Lessons of how compassion feeds and elevates our spirit in such extraordinary ways. 

Here are a few ways to make space for the lessons of this time:

• Slow down. Don't rush through the details of the day. Do one thing at a time. 
• Recharge. Spend meaningful time with family and friends. If needed, use skype, Facebook etc.
• Explore. Journal your daily thoughts and feelings. Note any recurring thoughts.
• Reconnect. Identify photos of things that represent your dreams and desires. Post them where you can see them daily. Internet or magazines may be helpful.
• Focus. Make a daily action list. Choose the three most critical items and complete. 
• Reflect. Get quiet. Listen. Meditate. Practice Yoga. Notice what happens. 
• Enjoy. Do something that makes you laugh every day. Movies, music, paint, dance, cook, start a DIY project, try a new recipe, play a family game, plant a flower etc.  
• Plan. What can you set in motion now to be better positioned for life post Corona? Research a new business, career, school, project, relocation, life change, etc. 
• Build . Strengthen your body, mind and spirit. Read and listen to be informed and inspired. Connect with God through prayer and scripture. Set a healthy diet and excise regiment that works for you. 

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Daneen James is an inspirational author, speaker and develops uplifting
products and media through her company, SPARKSAFLAME. 

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