My Heartsongs

Over a very short period of time, the world has seemingly taken a sharp turn into the twilight zone, as daily life moves from its normal neutral zone – that somewhat mindless going on about our individual business – to a collective communal gasp. It is as if the planet has asked us to take a big pause, beautifully portrayed in this video, “Lettera dal virus”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6-An69TNMY&t=56s

Watch it soon the link keeps changing…

A shortage of gowns and eye gear and masks that actually protect is unacceptable. It is absolutely criminal that we spend billions on weapons and war, and remain totally unprepared for a pandemic battleground. At war with no ammo is a stark reality for many health care personnel, hundreds of whom have begun reaching out through pleas for help on social media, using the hashtag #getmeppe—referring to personal protective equipment. We must have their backs!

The good news often gets buried in the avalanche of the terrible. A number of anti-viral drugs are in human clinical trails, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), founded in 2017 to fund small bio tech companies willing to take on the economic risk –usually shunned by Big Pharma – of developing vaccines, already has a COVID 19 vaccine entering safety trials in April. The mortality rate continues to fall worldwide as we get a more accurate picture of the number of asymptomatic or mildly infected people, who never go on to more serious illness.

Even though our individual risk for contracting the virus remains low, the impacts on society – not just economically – are becoming profound. Add in a large dose of many of us not really trusting government to tell the truth, and we have fertile ground for all sorts of blaming fingers to start wagging. Here is some new info and a reminder about preparedness.

Today, Feb 29,2020, the worldwide total approaches 87,000 people infected with COVID 19 in 63 countries and territories, including the first cases in Africa, with almost 3000 dead, including the first death in the US. Check out CDC.gov/coronavirus

With a vaccine likely 12-18 months away, here is the critical information you need to know from my perspective.

Every child receives both gifts and wounds from their parents, and our job is to learn to appreciate the gifts, even as we attempt to mend the emotional injuries. As the Little Prince reminds us: “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”

Empowering intentionality: We imagine things, then bring some skills, desire and focused time, energy and attention until we are enjoying what was once simply a thought form. Intentionality is related to having and doing, but also to being. This is all internal work, and aspiring to or wanting to embody certain feeling states – peace, compassion, acceptance – also benefit from holding a clear intention.

It is not just the big losses in our lives that can weigh us down. All the small disappointments of living, the minor players on the stage of melancholy, have their disheartening effects. I have learned over the years that I must provide space for everything grief brings: all its unpleasant baggage of anger and fear and sorrow. Through my grief, I recognize that healing is any change for the better.

My men’s group had one of its bi annual extended gatherings this past week. Our connections with each other provide many possibilities to explore both the longing to share our creative endeavors, and the celebrations that always have a place at the table of our life—despite aging and health challenges.

Isolation affects millions of people around the world, especially the elderly. This is different from loneliness, which is more of a subjective experience, harder to quantify. Ongoing research suggests that loneliness has adverse health consequences as profound as smoking or obesity.