The Santa John’s View from the Bridge – December 2020
The View from the Bridge is an opinion piece that explores how societal changes can/will impact the future, especially as these changes apply to the Graphic-Products industry and small businesses in general.
It’s the last day of the year! We are wishing you and yours health and happiness in the coming year!
As we exit 2020, I am drawn to reflect on the disruption we have all lived through this year.
For me personally, disruption began intensifying a few years ago when Judy, my life-partner since 1962, was diagnosed with cancer. Then chemo, radiation, and death in January of 2019.
Next came 9 months of intense grieving; a process that felt somewhat like a gestation period, leading to my spiritual rebirth.
I was led back to church; Holley and I met in November 2019 (Thanksgiving) and started dating. I proposed marriage in February 2020, on Valentine’s Day, and we planned a June wedding.
Covid-19 lockdowns started in March; we decided to move our wedding date to ASAP; we married March 29th, 2020. (Thank you for your well-wishes and prayers.)
During January 2020, I moved from the house Judy and I shared to an apartment. I planned to downsize, sell the house, and travel. March 2020, we moved Holley out of her apartment. April 2020, the pandemic intensifies; Holley and I decided to move back into our house to ride out the pandemic.
Other disruptions, Mandy and Daisy, pets that were a part of my life with Judy, also passed in 2020.
Lots of disruption here. Any in your life recently?
Grieving
What I have come to realize is, that for me; grieving is a pity party for my ego. Poor me, how am I going to survive this change, this disruption in my life, this separation?
What works for me is to turn grief to gratitude. Whenever a memory of a loved one comes to mind, I enjoy that memory, thank the Universe for that experience, and release it.
If it’s an experience one might judge as unpleasant, sad, negative; I do the best I can to step outside of the emotion, hurt, “I’ll get even” type of reaction. I try to focus on what the experience might teach me. Sometimes that takes time, so I try not to react immediately. I try to “Engage Brain BEFORE Starting Mouth!”
In short, I’m 77 years old, and am grateful for all the wonderful experiences I’ve had, and will have.
I choose to rejoice in the past, dream for the future, and focus on the NOW. For me, it makes life a joy to live.
In Short
Thank you for your attention. Keep in mind that we don’t know what we don’t know. So, don’t take our word for it. Meditate and find what is right for you.
As we’ve said before, working from home may become the norm. Commuting to an office, not so much or so often. (great for reducing air pollution, not so great for oil producers and gas stations.)
The economic transformations COVID-19 has initiated will last long after the dis-ease is brought into balance (i.e., suppressed). We consider ourselves blessed to be here to witness and help in this transformation.
These changes will favor small businesses that work from home.