Upon his return from a before-sunrise trip to the grocery store, my beloved shared a conversation between two employees who stood nearby. They talked quietly, however, because the store was nearly deserted, their voices traveled.
“It’s hard when everybody wants to quit and leave.” Shoulders slumped, the middle-aged man continued to stock the nearly empty shelves. The other nodded in agreement and kept working.
Before the pandemic [and for some, torrential hurricane rains and blistering wildfires], many people would say what mattered the most revolved around family, job, or community. Of little surprise, there has been a subtle yet notable shift in the way we now think and act. And for good reason. What happened?
I’d like to venture that while many of us were grateful for what we had before all this started, the unraveling of our social, economic, and health issues have, if nothing else, served to shake up our personal and corporate world in such a way we now have greater appreciation for so many of the people and things we would have taken for granted in the past.
If there is one thread that runs through these areas of family, job and community it’s this—relationships. People. Shared experiences. Like most things, we don’t fully understand the impact of the loss or separation from those that mean the most to us until the pain associated with this new reality sets in. Whether physical, emotional, or psychological, this discomfort seems relentless. Yes, it may come and go in waves, but disappear? Nope, not for the foreseeable future.
Given the uncertainties we face these days, what does that mean for those all-important relationships? We need to get creative. In small ways. In ways we’d never dreamed of before, because it didn’t seem as necessary before.
Most relationships benefit from a healthy dose of thoughtful connection. This happens when we have an understanding of the choices we can make to help make the other person’s life easier, more enjoyable, less stressed. No, we are not the God of miracles, however, we can be vessels through which the good stuff flows.
All of which brings me back to the comment in the grocery store. The frustrated words of the worker wouldn’t leave me. Nonetheless, was that where it would stop? Would I nod my head in silent agreement and continue on as usual?
Given the circumstances, I’d like to make a suggestion—for you as well as myself. What if this is the perfect time to turn our thoughts of “that’s unfortunate” into “what action can I take to help make a positive difference?”
If this sort of thing was second nature to you before all the chaos and unsettledness, ramp things up where possible. Give someone an anonymous gift of cash. Offer to walk the dog. Make a donation of gently used clothing or furniture to your favorite faith community or local non-profit. Leave a basket of fresh flowers or vegetables on a neighbor’s front porch. Give your boss a gift card for their favorite takeout beverage or meal.
The ways we can be a ray of hope for those struggling to get through the next hour, let along the remainder of the day, are limitless. When we keep our eyes and ears open, we notice the need[s]. That may seem a challenge, especially for those who are trying to keep their heads above the fray, however, let us never underestimate how our simplest efforts may brighten the spirits of the most weary and hurting among us.
So, what matters to you? Would today be a good opportunity to show your appreciation for those who mean the most by letting them know how much you care?
