The world as we know it has turned upside down and inside out. There appears to be no ability to control the spread of this disease. As a nation, we elect our leaders to protect us. We don’t usually expect to need protection against a viral outbreak.

How do we cope with this unease? How does one live without fear?

We are being encouraged to stay indoors and to practice social distancing, which goes against the way many of us were raised. What we do with this time will make a huge difference in how we each move through this pandemic. 

I define responsibility, simply, as the “ability to respond.” We know that our government has not responded to this outbreak effectively, however, we can still choose to personally respond. It is important, then, that we keep in mind that when we respond out of fear, we are not responding. We are reacting. There is an important difference. 

To understand fear you have to face it. It is important to stay in the present moment. What can we do now? How can we use this time to connect more deeply with ourselves and with our families and friends? 

Amongst this craziness, if you are alive, if you have a home, food, and some income, practice gratitude. Our way of living is changing and we do not know what lies ahead. This moment is an opportunity to take inventory of ourselves, and decide who we want to be now. We can’t control the virus but we can control our own lives. 

So, today: who do you want to be?