“Stay Well, Stay Strong, and Stay Connected”
A young friend of mine texted me, to ask how Sharon and I were doing. That was so kind of him. Just being checked on feels very good these days. It is always a good thing, but these days I am more aware of how wonderful it is.
I texted back that, as far as I know right now (and how far is that, I wonder?), we are doing fine. And of course, I asked him how they were doing. They are fine too.
And then I texted this: “Stay well, stay strong, and stay connected.”
I don’t really know where that came from. God perhaps? But whatever or whoever its source, that encapsulates what I think we all need to be focused on during these uncertain days.
There are many choices we can make these days to stay well. We can keep a respectful distance from others. We can wash our hands. We can exercise a bit, even if we’re pretty much housebound. Most of us can get out and enjoy the fresh air and the beginnings of spring. We can limit our exposure to electronic influences on the tv, the radio, and the internet Instead, we might choose to pick up a book, listen to some really good music, or learn a new skill (or resurrect an old one).
We can stay strong too. I am not talking just about staying physically strong, though that has its place. There is also mental strength and emotional strength. I don’t know exactly what form emotional and mental strength would take for you, but I can I tell you what my own provisional understanding of those strengths would be: Mental and emotional strength are the awareness of what I am feeling and thinking, acknowledging those feelings and thoughts, and doing the next right thing—no matter what.
And then, there is staying connected. Even with social distancing, there are many chances to connect. I greet my neighbors (admittedly, from a distance) with a cheery “How are you doing?” with a lot more sincerity and intensity than I used to do? I telephone people more often. I text. I email. Even these blog posts are designed to keep in touch. I picture you at your computer reading them, and perhaps taking a little encouragement from them. Who knows? I might even begin writing honest-to-goodness letters! (Well, I don’t know if I want to go that retro.)
Of course these three—staying well, strong, and connected—are all connected. Perhaps, ultimately, they are one.
So, my wish for you is this: Stay well, stay strong, and stay connected. Today and every day.
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