The Value of Reflection

Each morning I write 1-3 pages. It typically starts out as a reflection of the prior day and can go almost anywhere. I have been doing these morning pages for over a decade. Putting my thoughts and ideas on the page help me link my experiences and perceptions. Reflection, for me, is an opportunity to develop insight.

November is approaching and we are entering the 10th month of the pandemic. Many of us naively thought it would be over by now. There was talk of a second wave, yet it seemed a way off and not certain. As our infections numbers climb it appears, we are in that second wave. Some experts project that COVID-19 will continue to be a threat most of 2021 and possibly well into 2022. We go day to day, week to week, and watch trends. Progress is made and lost as the weeks roll by. It is indeed our way of life now. We must just get through it. Preferably together with more focus on a cure and what we can do better in terms of creating an infrastructure.

While in the midst of something unprecedented and/or uncommon, looking to history can prove helpful. If Spanish flu is a reference point, the experts are likely right. We will be combatting COVID-19 for another year at least. That is hard to accept. It is particularly hard right now in the USA where we have become so divided. Sadly, the pandemic has been politicized just like so many other things. Meanwhile, we have people dying, sick, without work, without childcare, etc. The losses are mounting. We try to minimize our exposure and maintain our compassion.

Next week we will elect our leadership for the next four years. It will be a relief to have the elections behind us. As we approach election day, it is hard not to look back to the 2016 general election. The results of that election were not as many expected. Nor have the years since then been as imagined. It was a blessing for some, a rude awakening for others -- a new beginning to be sure. Our lives seem so different from just 4 years ago. One of the big things about the 2020 election is the anticipated turnout. People are voting in record numbers. The tension continues to mount. False news is spread on our social media platforms. This is not new. We were just blind sided by it in 2016. It is interesting to watch how misinformation is being addressed now. As expected, not all sides agree. Our democracy Is being challenged.

It can feel awkward to reflect on more trivial matters when so much is going on. Breaking through is worthwhile, if even to just be reminded that we are not alone. The last 10 months, within the pandemic, I have made some significant changes in my life. Now, at 56 years of age, I find myself retired (at least not working) and living in a retirement community. It is exciting. It is also strange. If we were not in a pandemic, we likely would be much more social and meeting lots of people. That is not happening. Just recently the community center has opened to limited capacity. We are seeing some familiar faces. It will take time to restore the full community feeling. Meanwhile we shelter in place and minimize our exposure while slowly exploring the area. There are many hours in the day to reflect.