Life Lately: Weathering the Storm

Good morning friends, I hope that you had a good weekend. It was another wild weekend here, a little sun, a little wind and a lot of rain. I woke up last night to the plantation shutters banging on the wall from the crazy wind and rain. I leapt out of bed and ran to the front porch to rescue my plants that were waiting to be potted from blowing all over the porch, a few lost their leaves and flowers but they should be fine. 

I read this poem a few days ago and I have not been able to forget it. 

We Are Not All in The Same Boat

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked, and mine might not be.

Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflections, of re-connection, easy in flip-flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial and family crisis.

For some that live alone, they’re facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest, and time with their mother, father, sons and daughters.

With the $600 (US) weekly increase in unemployment, some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working.

Others are working more hours for less money, due to pay cuts or loss in commissioned sales.

Some families of four just received $3400 from the stimulus package, while other families of four saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter, while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk, and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break quarantine.

Some are at home spending two to three hours a day, helping their child with online schooling, while others are doing the same on top of a 10–12 hour work day.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it, and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it.

Others don’t believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles this year.

Others say the worst is yet to come.

We are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm, experiencing a very different journey. — Unknown Author

Think about this. 

 In my case, I have no kids at home and my husband and I have worked from home together for the last 8 years. I work downstairs he works up, he never leaves his office unless I call up to him for something. We are not making do in a spare room, trying to conduct conference calls and business. Although the other day I was discussing a house I found and renovations with my husband not realizing that he was on a company wide call and he accidentally un-muted it, there were a few chuckles from the CEO as I mentioned gutting the whole place. 

We do not have to balance our work hours with homeschooling kids, making sure they get out for fresh air and have three meals a day. My daughter-in-law and my brother have taken on that task and are doing a great job with their kids. 

I work for my family business and am not in any danger of loosing my job, for now all is well with my husbands company. Other members of my family and friends have not been so lucky, they are laid-off, trying to claim their benefits and frustrated because they have spent countless hours on the phone or on-line and have had no luck. Many others are frustrated that they did not get any of the stimulus money to help keep their business afloat. 

I’ve watched friends try to pivot and keep their businesses, and projects afloat on social media offering sales on-line, tutorials and classes. Sadly I know of several businesses that will not be able to open back up; years and years of hard work, life savings, retirement plans all gone. 

My step-daughter, sister-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles are on the front line every day as nurses, doctors and labtechnicians fighting to keep us safe.

I don’t live by family but am grateful that my parents are healthy and have lots of family and friends close by if they need anything. My siblings and I keep in touch by phone, email, Instagram and my mother keeps us entertained each day by sending photos of us as we grew up. It has been endlessly entertaining to reminisce about each photo, our hair, clothing, etc. 

My ship is sailing well, others are not so lucky. I don’t need to tell you about the people living alone, people who are waiting in 10 mile long lines for food, women and children who are suffering abuse. 

I have changed my course from the one that I had chartered in the beginning. I stopped cleaning and making lists of rooms to “re-do.” I’ve continued with my online classes from Coursera and Masterclass but I am also trying to support small business friends at the same time by taking their on-line cooking, art and photography classes. We’ve taken our house off the market, turned down the offer we had and have decided to stay put for now. It was getting to hard to drive to see houses at a moments notice states away, and frankly it was unsafe and a little scary.

I have days when I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel and that June 10th seems like a world away. But I know how blessed I am and I thank God every night and every morning for keeping me, my husband, and my family and friends safe and healthy. 

I believe that there will be some good to come from this crisis and that there are silver linings as we go through it. 

We are not all in the same boat that is true but with empathy, compassion, understanding and love perhaps we can help others who are floundering on the shores. 

Have a good day friends. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need to talk, vent, are lonely.  The blogging community is a compassionate place and there are many here who will help.