I could write about how surreal and frightening this pandemic is for so many individuals, including me. I could list all the warnings and recommended protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy. I could do all those things, as so many others have, and rightfully so.

Instead I would like to try something different. I am asking myself to approach this experience not with fear, but with curiosity. What can I learn; About myself, about others, through words, actions and deeds. I do not intend to judge, only to understand.

When our brain is faced with an experience totally new, completely novel in our existence, it reaches back to previous memories which are similar, and then, presents those memories as our template to understand the present moment. It is like hearing a word in a foreign language and thinking, “well that sounds like.this word, so it must mean somewhat the same thing”. But in the case of this pandemic, there is no template that matches the situation. So the brain does the best it can.

This may explain why people are reacting so differently from one another. Some recognise the danger, (reminds me of the robot in “Lost in Space”. ‘Danger, Danger Will Robinson’!!.”}. Others view the government stepping in and dictating what they can or cannot do, so, they rebel as if the government was an overly strict parent or bossy sibling. Everyone’s world filter is different, our views all unique.

The point is, to me, that we are all in this together. Literally All of Us, the entire World. It highlights the connectedness of all people. If there is a macro lesson to be learned here and now, it is this; We are all connected. The impact of Individual actions go far and beyond each individual person. What helps one, helps all. What harms one, hurts all.

There is immense power in the choice of the individual. In this day and time, literally the power of life and death. Life is a series of choices. Moment by moment we effect our path, and the paths of others by our choices.

I challenge each of us, connected as we are, to carefully consider our choices and the power they hold. Choose carefully and wisely.