As life slows down
We get a chance to look around us more carefully
No longer rushing about
We can linger and ponder
Longing for connection
We find new ways of reaching out
Technology is crucial in our lives
People passing away
Makes us reassess our priorities
We look at our lives and think what makes us happy
No longer having easy access to material things
We wonder how much we actually need
When life is simpler
And there is more time for contemplation
We can rearrange our lives
May 27th, 2020
Sometimes you think you know the scale of a problem
That you can see the beginning, the middle and the end
And then you realize you had been too optimistic and underestimated the problem
What were to be temporary changes will last much longer
You realize that this problem is larger than life
That it has caused changes we could have never imagined
That we’re in this for the long haul
This is not a problem that can be wished away
Scores of scientists are doing their best
To find a solution to something they’ve never seen
But this work can’t be done quickly
The economy is in terrible shape
The stock markets have plummeted
Unemployment is where it has never been
Schools are closed and so are businesses
And these are problems that are worldwide
Almost no country has remained unaffected
These are extraordinary times
The welfare of people should come first
The economy and the markets can’t be the priority
It’s time for compassion and care
May 6th, 2020
I wonder what we will think
When we look back at these unusual times
Days of physical isolation
Limited travel
Closed schools
Working from home
Unanswered questions
Worries and fears
What will we take away from this experience?
Will we be wiser?
More compassionate?
Will we be less materialistic?
Will we be more thankful for all that we have?
Will we have made new friends and connections?
Will our priorities have changed?
When the ground is plowed
The harvest is bountiful
The longer the stew simmers
The more delicious it is
Difficulties need to be followed by insight
Otherwise suffering is wasted time
April 30th, 2020
To wear a mask or not to wear a mask?
First they said, don’t wear a mask
We need them for the health care workers
That made sense
Then they said why don’t you make home made masks?
“Not all of us can sew!”
They said use a bandana
“That would look wired”
They said you can buy one on line
“That I can!”
The masks arrived after a few days
They looked cute
But for some reason I didn’t want to wear them
My smile tells people I’m friendly
My smile communicates warmth and love
My smile can brighten someone’s day
My smile makes me feel good inside
How am I supposed to let people know I’m smiling at them
If my mouth is covered with a mask?
I could paint a smile on my mask
But that would look awfully creepy
Some people wear masks
Others don’t
If everyone did, it would be easier
So, I continue to wonder
To wear a mask or not to wear a mask?
April 24th, 2020
We used to write our e-mails on paper
Then put them in a mailbox
And wait for someone to pick them up
They would then be brought to a sorting place
Put in a car or on a plane
And delivered to another sorting place
Finally, after many days, a mailman would deliver
These messages to the recipient’s home
Now, imagine waiting for a reply!
These days we write hundreds of what were called
Letters in those days in one day
And they are delivered in less than a second
No matter how far or near the destination
There are more advanced systems like
Facebook and WhatsApp or Instagram and Zoom
You can speak your message
Or deliver it in a video
You can video chat from anywhere in the world
You can have meetings thanks to Zoom
Soon, letters we’ve kept from years past
Will become as valuable as antiques
People will look at them with astonishment
And wonder how we communicated in such slow speeds
How times have changed
And how they will keep changing
We should not take what we have for granted
What I just wrote will be read by my friends across the world soon
No mailman, post office or plane needed
April 19th, 2020
Cashew lies down on the floor
Very content
Without a care
As I blow dry my hair
I’ve been wondering what goes on
In that head of hers as she lies there
I’ve noticed she spends a lot of time
Sitting and staring into space
What is her thought process during these times?
How does she entertain herself?
The times she sleeps, eats, and plays
I understand
But what about when she stares into the distance?
I know dogs are different from people
I should not compare
But this question comes up again and again
Maybe those times are her zen times
Her meditation times
Maybe that’s why she’s so relaxed
Maybe I should meditate more too
It seems to be working for Cashew!
April 17th, 2020
Is man incorrigible?
Will we ever learn from our mistakes?
Not always it seems
We make the same mistake over and over again
But why?
Because we have not changed
We see things the same way and behave the same way
Only a shift in our values and behaviour
Will give rise to better decision making
There needs to be a fundamental shift
In how we see ourselves and our place in the planet
We need to put justice before profit
We need to be less greedy and more generous
We need to look upon others as our brothers and sisters
We need to value honesty and trustworthiness
Our values will determine the outcome
April 15th, 2020
These are days of isolation
Of social distancing
Of hunkering down
These are the days of slowing down
Driving less
Travelling much less
Returning home
These are unusual times
The world is going through a crisis
And geography and borders matter not
These are days of compassion for others and ourselves
Of the selflessness of those who venture out for us
The nurses the doctors and other essential workers
Who must continue to be out and about
These are the days of realizing
The level of our interdependence
These are the days of coming together
To look for solutions
These are the days of empathy
Of patience
Of evaluation
These days are formative days
The effect of which will last a long time
April 14th, 2020
Our new reality
Two feet apart
Grandparents who can’t be visited
Parties that can’t be held
Schools out of session
Universities on line
Theatres and sports arenas empty
Working from home
Zoom meetings
Isolation for those who live alone
If we choose International cooperation
Share scientific data
Care for the vulnerable in our communities
House those who live on the streets
Commute less
Pray more
Empathize more
Share more
Acknowledge the oneness of our species
Acknowledge our interdependence
Then our new reality
Has some draw-backs in the short term
But it can be very beneficial in the long run
April 10th, 2020
During these times of no mehmouni
We’re resorting to Zoom ones
There are advantages involved
With no commute time or air plain ride
We can come together from various counties in the world
Cross-continental mehmounis are what we have now
We can bring our cup of tea or our ‘tokhmeh’*
We can even have a meal at the same time
We can arrive when we want
And leave when we want
We can be inside or outside
Zoom mehmounis are wonderful
The only things we can’t do is talk at the same time
April 7th, 2020
Mehmouni: party
Tokhmeh: seeds in their shell that are cracked and eaten as refreshment
