The Shock
I'm not sure about you, but life around these parts has been pretty crazy recently. Unless your name is Patrick Star and you literally live under a rock, you can see what is happening in our nation, heck our entire world right now and how it is truly ending life as we know it. As a newly married, 25 year old woman this is a new realm for your girl. While the problems of the world may be new, the feeling that they produce inside of us, is not.
Fear, anxiety, frustration. These are all among the many emotions that I and many others in our lives are currently feeling. Anywhere you turn there is a new case of COVID-19 that has been confirmed and each case seems to be getting closer to our homes and family members. Events, tournaments, concerts and entire sporting seasons are being canceled daily. Dreams of seniors in high schools and colleges are being destroyed as their chances of competing for championships are being shut down and canceled, sometimes hours before they compete. It seems like we are living in a chapter full of any emotion but happiness. The biggest of these? Fear.
COVID-19, or better known as Coronavirus, is truly shocking our world by storm. The rapidness of it's spreading is something not to be messed around with. Because of this, state and government officials are taking extreme precautions to stop it. The root of the media, the social media posts, the tweets, all of it resorts back to fear. Who could have the virus that we know right now? Is it close? Will the entire state, country go on lock down? Does my family have enough food? How will I work? Will my family be safe? All of these questions go through our heads over and over, holding us captive. You see the grocery stores being packed full of people, toilet paper being bought by the bulk, and people driving all over town for one or a few items they usually get at your normal Dollar General. Why? We are afraid of what is to come. We don't know what it is, or what it looks like, but we are afraid of it. I'm guilty of this myself. I went out in the craziness twice yesterday because I wanted to make sure I was covered. I'm not saying being prepared is wrong, it's actually very right, and a great thing to be. But the panic, the straight up fear that is driving us, that's what I'm talking about.
Closer to Home
Today I had a moment, sitting in my office, when I became completely crippled with fear when I read the headlines, " Four confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Cincinnati, OH." That is where my family lives, where I was last weekend. This was no longer some disease worlds away, but something that could take my family away. It was a moment of helplessness. Fear had taken my joy, my mind, and what felt like my entire body. I sat back, prayed and tried to quiet my thoughts. This was something I had done many times before in life and it hit me, fear has been running many of our lives much before Coronavirus came into them. Whether that's settling for less than your dreams, procrastination, or being a control freak. This emotion is not new to us. So today, in my office, in that moment of fear, I made a choice. I will not let fear win over me any longer.
Coronavirus, dem haters, and so many things are going to come directly into my life and there will be actions that I can do in my control, and that's it. And for me, that has to be enough. Freaking out over things I have no power over has wasted my time, energy and attention. For here on out, it just won't cut it. As a human race, we need to let go of pre-existing ideas and assumptions that simply aren't possible either currently or ever. Knowing where our power is, using that and using that to help others is the way we beat the hysteria, the fear, and panic. Look carefully at what you are afraid of. Is it Coronavirus or is it losing the control that we once had? The unknown is something that will drive us to do incredibly crazy things, and today I've chosen to let go of the need to know it all, the need to have a constant grip on my life and my circumstances. Letting God have full control of my thoughts, taking every thought captive, and knowing that He holds the pen to my life, to my story.
Choose Peace
So once I have done my part, recognized how blessed I am with what I currently have and knowing that there are people in place( Officials, the amazing nurses and doctors) to help us through this time. It's a constant battle, but it's nothing we haven't faced before. When deciding to start wedding photography fear is what kept me static for so long. Once I made the choice to move, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. So let's press on, let's chose to be proactive during this time. Let's bind together( 6 feet apart from each other please :) ) and do what's best for us and our families. Be smart in our choices and the rest will follow. Living free of fear is an option, but it is a constant choice that we must make. Today, I have decided to choose peace. Will you?