Annemarie Ward – Beauty in the Tragedy
Annemarie is a heart transplant recipient and American Heart Association, volunteer. Watch her story in this video.
I'm sure everyone is "shocked" that there is another blog about COVID-19. However, I feel this topic is essential for consistent discussion. The reason being is due to this issue, opening doors for conversation and support for one another during this time. I had a realization the other day and felt compelled to share.
Before COVID-19, our nations were contemplating war, our oceans were becoming tar, and it seemed as if no one was taking time to be still. Here is my realization, if you mess with the environment, it will mess right back. However, I am by no means happy or thankful for this pandemic, but I think our world is trying to speak to us, and maybe we should listen. I recognize the bad and that people have lost their jobs, businesses, and loved ones. It is traumatic and heartbreaking to see the world at a standstill. I feel as if we ALL are in some state of helplessness because all we can do is wait.
There is a quote by Oscar Wilde that states, "Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic." This is our opportunity to become exquisite. It is as if the world wants us to unite and work together. There are lessons to learn during the darkness. It is time we fight to find optimism and unity, in the midst of the chaos. Through this circumstance, we are learning the importance of human interaction. We are learning how hard healthcare employees and teachers work to better our lives and our children's lives. We are learning to be still and enjoy intimate times with our families, when maybe one's life may have been filled with business meetings and travel. We are seeing the skies clear of pollution and ecological environments thriving because we have stopped hurting the one place, we have to call home.
The American Heart Association (AHA) provides terrific resources on how to make the most of quarantine and how to stay safe. Stress management is essential as we adapt to a new normal. The AHA shares idea on exercises at home, relaxation techniques, and various activities that could aid yourself or your family during this tough time. Let discover new things during the stillness of being home. Let's recognize that the entire world is going through the same pain we are. Maybe, just maybe, we could empathize, love, and connect on a global level.
We ultimately decide how we're going to come out of this. Let choose to grow, to learn, to love. Therefore, by the end... we come out resilient. We come out stronger. We come out … exquisite.
