Here we are in August of 2021, faced with the continuing uncertainty of the pandemic. If it seems like it should be over by now, remember that nature and the universe do not keep humanity’s time table. As tempers rise and finger pointing and blaming accelerate I have a little reminder for you today…
Try a little kindness
What the world needs now is love sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love sweet love
No not just for some but for everyone.— Jackie DeShannon
Though many hoped the dreaded COVID019 pandemic would be over and life would have returned to normal by now, there is no end in sight. I would argue that a return to our normal mindless high-consumption lifestyle is the last thing we need, whether the pandemic is over or not. But that’s a tale for another day
We’re all listening to news of the dreaded Delta variant, how it’s more easily transmissible, it’s causing more severe illness, and more hospitalizations.
And in the midst of this news I can feel the fear in the air
Today I want to talk about uncertainty, fear, anger, and intolerance. Unfortunately wherever you find the first two of these, you will last two as well. The last thing we need right now is more intolerance for any reason. Isn’t the great political divide in our country divisive enough? Do we now need to create a new great divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated?
Yet I am hearing more and more fear, anger, frustration and intolerance. “If only people would get vaccinated,” or “What’s wrong with these people?”
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
―
On one side there is a self-righteous indignation that “those people” will not listen to the voice of science and are putting us all in danger. And on the other side there are as many different reasons for reluctance, concern and mistrust of the vaccine as there are leaves of grass in the world.
In the midst of fear and uncertainty we often embrace a deep need to do something, anything, to fix the current problem of the pandemic. However, sometimes, there is no fix. Nature and the life force do not follow humankind’s designs and wishes. And sometimes despite our best efforts, sometimes the only way out is through, however life unfolds. Vaccines have been very successful against some dreaded diseases like polio, smallpox, and measles to name a few. But vaccines are not a panacea and sometimes vaccines cause harm to some people. My youngest daughter had a strong allergic reaction to the pertussis vaccine as an infant so I have had first-hand experience with one of the possible outcomes.
Yet what I am seeing a lot of in the most of the national news coverage and elsewhere, is a demonization of the unvaccinated. Demonizing the unvaccinated among us (or any group) will not help. It is simply another form of intolerance.
Not nearly as clear-cut as some believe
I’ve read a lot of information on both sides of this issue and it is not nearly as clear-cut as some would lead you believe. The vaccine issue has been highly politicized. First, there are those for whom the vaccine would present a real danger because of adverse reactions to the vaccine. Their knowledge is based upon a lifetime of weird reactions to substances, foods and chemicals, but can often not be substantiated by a flag in their medical file that says, “should not be vaccinated.” As someone who has suffered from largely invisible yet very real health issues for which there is no definitive diagnosis, I can imagine how challenging the current environment is for some of them. Will they lose their job because they refuse the vaccine? Or will their friends desert them? How long will they be excluded from social gatherings, musical events, and other social events?
Many have found no answers to health issues in Western medicinal interventions but have found much help through alternative medicine. Is it any wonder that they are reluctant to get the vaccine? I grew up thinking that doctors were “Gods” and never questioned anything they said. But as someone with many health issues that have never been helped by Western medicine, I now embrace alternative medicine along with Western medicine, choosing what works for me and questioning many pharmaceutical interventions that in my opinion cause more harm than good.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
―
Walk in someone else’s shoes
It’s time to try a little kindness.
Try this exercise my friends. Think of 3 generous interpretations about why someone might decide not to get the vaccine at this time…
I know; it’s not easy if you are feeling highly anxious or afraid. So take a few slow breaths, imagine yourself in a beautiful safe place, surrounded by beauty, sweet scented flowers, and a soft breeze. Now think again — 3 good reasons someone you love has decided not to get the vaccine right now.
Okay, for those of you who believe that the vaccine and the reporting about COVID-19 is a huge conspiracy or at best hugely misguided, the same exercise. Think of three good reasons someone you love might have chosen to become vaccinated.
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
―
No matter what you believe, choose kindness
Choose a generous interpretation
And even in the midst of disappointment about current limitations or problems, take some time to count your blessings. During a Zoom yoga class yesterday, each of us gave a short check-in on how we were doing at the beginning of the class. The participants in this class all struggle with disabilities of one kind or another so just being there with them often makes me grateful for my own body, imperfect as it is. But last evening I was reminded again of the blessings of connecting with others. One woman in the class reported, “I don’t feel that I can leave my home right now because I am severely immune compromised. But I live with a wonderful man, I have two companion cats, a comfortable home, plenty of food, air conditioning, and I’m able to be with you tonight on Zoom. I am truly blessed.”
“MR. BROWNE’S SEPTEMBER PRECEPT:
WHEN GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING
RIGHT OR BEING KIND, CHOOSE KIND.”
― Wonder
What blessings are you grateful for today?
Please my friends, try a little kindness today and always.
May you walk in beauty.
Note: photos in today’s post from an early morning walk yesterday at French Regional Park and from a small bunch of purple salvia flowers.
For those who like me, got the vaccine and would like to read an alternate point of view, I encourage you to read a recent essay by Charles Eisenstein, called “Mob Morality and the Unvaxxed.”
Great blue heron in flight
Hazy morning at Medicine Lake
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