It Is My Prayer That This COVID-19 Experience Will Make Us More Appreciative Of Everything

 Initially, I was going to post the words that are now the title of this release on Facebook as a general post. But then it dawned on me that the thought was bigger than just a one-liner on Facebook. Now I may still post it as a one-liner; however, I believe the notion needs to be expounded upon with the hopes that it will actually happen.

The idea came to me as I was returning home from a task that prior to this COVID-19 experience I dare to say was a task that not much thought was given to by anyone even though it is something we all have to do at some point and could be considered mundane or routine..........grocery shopping. For a little over a month now, life as we know it changed quickly and drastically as a result of the coronavirus lockdown that was put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. Lockdowns occurred around the world as more and more cases of the coronavirus and deaths occurred. Schools, churches, stores, malls, restaurants, movie theaters, amusement parks, local parks, gym chains, massage/skincare franchises, travel & tourism businesses and anything else that was not deemed "essential" were suddenly closed. Everyone with the exception of those who worked for an essential business was told to "Stay home." Talk about a pattern interrupt. Routines changed seemingly overnight. Just about any type of face-to-face interaction was and is now being conducted virtually by video or telephone. Masks and gloves are worn when you must venture out to the supermarket or bank and food can only be ordered via the drive-through or as take-out. Even funeral services are conducted virtually if at all. Yes, life changed in an instant. 

It is for this reason that I am praying and hoping that once we have made our way through this COVID-19 experience, that every one of us is more appreciative of the most minute detail and activity. I hope that we appreciate every person, meeting, activity, and experience like someone who knows what it feels like to be restricted from doing these things. During this COVID-19 experience, we are restricted from being with people, going to collectively worship, learn in a classroom, go to our jobs or say our last goodbyes at a funeral. We are restricted from eating in restaurants or enjoying a movie or riding a rollercoaster. We are restricted from receiving a massage, manicure/pedicure, or hair grooming. We are restricted from working out at the gym, playing basketball in the park or seeing our children play in that same park. We are restricted and once these restrictions are lifted and we have worked our way through this COVID-19 experience we ought to be more appreciative of these things than ever before. It has been said that "You don't miss your water until your well runs dry," and there is some truth in that statement as I am sure we didn't realize how much we would miss the people, gatherings, and activities mentioned above and more until they were taken away from us. 

Let us not take people, activities, things, and abilities that we have been blessed with for granted. Let us be grateful now and once we are beyond this COVID-19 experience take our levels of appreciation and gratitude to unseen heights. Let us experience each experience as if it were our first time. 

Without a doubt, we are a part of history as I cannot recall in my lifetime ever experiencing anything like this. There have been many other crises, yet none required the world to simultaneously shut down. When we are done we are to be more thankful than ever. It is my prayer that this COVID-19 experience will make us more appreciative of everything.

I invite you to reach out to me at marcamedley.com