How COVID-19 has given me a new perspective…
I have great neighbors. There’s literally no way they could be better.
Besides being absolutely lovely people, they help me with projects, some of which have taken several hours. They babysit my granddaughter when needed, treating her like a family member. They have also helped me get rid of the rodents that my cat continues to bring inside. And they do these things with no expectation of anything in return. Sure, I’ll bring over a bottle of wine or a bit of cash as a thank you, but that’s not why they do it. When it comes to open-hearted, generous people, their family is at the very top.
These generous souls help me with things that have little to no impact on themselves. They help because they’re kind, and they help because they value community.
So why am I telling you this?
Because, as a community, we have been requested/required to wear masks when we go to a public venue.
And because just after this news broke the other day, I realized that wearing my mask out in public does very little to help my health. This is all for you and yours, my friend.
By me doing this selfless act, I’m giving the ultimate gift of health to others, on the chance I might be sick and not know it.
Now, this isn’t meant to come across as, “Ooooh, look at ME, blah, blah, blah, I’m so great, blah, blahh, blahhh.” I’m not seeking cudos or acknowledgement — because I know that I’m a kind person who is also a total asshole sometimes.
I felt the need to share this ah-ha moment with you so we can change into a more doing-for-others mentality.
Helping others helps ourselves
So what are some additional actions we can do for the greater good that don’t impact ourselves? I’ve written previous blog posts with ideas of ways to give.
Here’s just one.
But how does this change in the COVID days? More traditional ways to lend a helping hand may not be appropriate or even safe right now. We might have to get a bit more creative, but that’s not a bad thing. Putting that extra focus on doing for others in alternative ways might be just what you need to shift your perspective to more positive thoughts.