insiderblmWhen I started Pandemic of Love back on March 14th, none of us could have imagined just how deadly and prolonged the COVID-19 crisis would become.
Now, as we see the number of cases continue to rise, coupled with the fear of the impending flu season; as we stand at the dawn of what promises to be a dark winter; and as our nation continues to bear a historic division among its citizenry, I somehow feel hopeful.
What I feel is the Hope of Action.
Showing up for others in our time of need helps to relieve both our own suffering and that of others.
There is an inspiring energy harnessed by simply showing up and putting yourself out there during a time when you are feeling lost, distraught or hopeless. It helps to channel negative energy into a positive force for change, which in turn generates positive shifts in our lives and in the world.
The thing is, when dire days come, as they surely have for all of us weathering this global crisis, it is an act of self-preservation to take action. If there is one thing I’ve learned from this beautiful experiment called Pandemic of Love, it’s that involvement changes everything.
The most important thing you can ever do in your life is to simply show up.
Pandemic of Love has brought the unlikeliest people together, it has saved families from spending nights on the street, it has paid for funerals of loved ones lost to COVID-19, and it’s ensured that both prescriptions and refrigerators were filled.
But above all, it’s brought a sense of purpose and restored hope in our patrons and volunteers who have been working under circumstances and in situations that are anything but joyous. These individuals show up with joy because they feel the Hope of Action. They’re showing up to save others and, in the process, finding themselves feeling just a little bit saved, too.
