While we are on quarantine (self-imposed or otherwise), some perspective may be in order.
Most everyone has some similarities. Almost all of us, with a few exceptions, of
course, have two arms, two legs, etc.
And this is not a knock in any way for those that do not have those
things. It is just a normal standard,
for a huge percentage of the human population.
One of our other similarities is the notion of perception: what we see in others we largely assume they
are now what they always were, and that however our personal situations are
now, they will be close to that in the past and future. Let’s dig.
People
What do you see when you see an elderly person, slowly
shuffling down the sidewalk (‘older’ is anyone older than WE are)? Maybe you see someone not as limber and
capable in their later years than they were before. Maybe we feel a pang of sympathy for their
discomfort, just getting through their days.
What we almost NEVER see: that
person was once YOUNG. He or she was not
born old! They lived their lives,
carrying the day-to-day burdens for decades!
We likely don’t see the dashing young man or hot young woman of the
past, back when they were ‘in their prime’.
We just see the ‘now’. And it
isn’t a disparaging thing, just a common fault of perception. We also likely skip the entire notion that,
if we are lucky, we’ll get to a similar stage in life ourselves!
Situations
How are things for you personally, now? Finances, health, family, friendships, neighbors? Along those same perception flaws is that we have a tendency to forget what was, ignore what might be in the future, and focus on NOW. As if our current condition is how it will be for the foreseeable future. REALLY? A fun exercise: on any of the facets listed above, compare now with 5 years ago. How much has changed in such a minor percentage of our lives? The average life expectancy is around 80 years, so 5 years in an average life is only about 6% of the total. I’m betting significant changes have occurred! Maybe your family structure has changed: new children, children leaving the nest, new grandkids, divorce or marriages of you or others in your family, family members passing away, whatever. Maybe your finances have undergone an overhaul, good or bad? Maybe you paid off some credit cards (or loaded up some new ones)? Maybe you’ve paid off that car (or took on the loan for another one)? Maybe you’ve moved to a new neighborhood, with all of the good and bad that entails? How does your health compare, now to then? The combinations are innumerable. So, since so much likely changed in the last 5 years, what makes you think you’re done changing? It’s a safe bet the next 5 will contain just as many moving parts! If you could tell yourself anything 5 years ago, what would it be? Tell yourself that today!
