Small Beautiful Things

This is my third week of living in self-isolation. The world is chaotically chugging on, and many lives have been devastated. As of April 2, 2020, the American unemployment rate is 32%, and that number is projected to continue rising. Over 217,081 Americans have tested positive for COVID-19, and 4,857 have tragically passed. We live with a constant stream of bad news, worry, uncertainty, and selfishness. The tunnel vision that accompanies panic is very real, as is the numbness, the inability to concentrate, the lack of appetite. As we’re collectively finding our footing, we must self-regulate in new and often unexpected ways. As Anthony Scaramucci said, “Panic implies that there is no rational thought taking place. That we are frozen and incapable of adjusting. Powerless to logic and subject to seemingly unthinkable behavior.”

To avoid panicking, I turned to small things. Pablo Nerudo wrote an entire book called “Ode to Common Things,” which illustrates the very obvious yet understated fact that ordinary life is rife with interest and wonder. Children know this, but many adults have become too obsessed with the grand to notice the glitter littering the pages of everyday life. With that in mind, I wrote the following ramble. There are no bullet points, numbering systems, bold headers, or takeaways because sometimes life requires a bit less click bait. xoxo