Let me start off by saying that I’m a member of the Bachelor Nation. I can’t help it and I’m not ashamed. I’ve had some of my most colossal, existential revelations watching that show but that’s a story for another time. While watching our young ingenue last night vet her hunky suitors in their opulent desert Covid vacuum, I noticed that our heroine kept repeating “quarantine” and how tough it’s been on everyone. This… in the middle of her champagne filled introductions to her potential life partners. Her true, long awaited Cinderella moment and still this story of tough times and the trials we’re all going through.
It pervades even the most triumphant of our adventures… like getting the best table at your favorite restaurant and then Johnny four gallons of aftershave gets seated right behind you. These times are tough, no doubt, but are we beginning to believe it even in situations where it’s not true? When we’re laughing, when we’re enjoying a Zoom happy hour with friends or any time we’re feeling “normal” but need to remind ourselves, out of habit almost, of the stanky situation that we’re all in.
The more you repeat a story, the more real it gets. I’ve found myself pausing when someone asks me how I’m doing and I’ll search for something somber to say about my life because we’re not suppose to be feeling ok in these “tough times”. By no means do I think we should avoid any of the absolutley berserk things that are happening in our world right now but I think we need to realize that there is still beauty in it too.
I think we sometimes undermine something positive that happens under the umbrella of our current situation with the obligatory “This was great but I wish it wasn’t these circumstances…am I right?”. As Henry Ford said “Whether you think you can, or you can’t – you’re right.” Our attitude creates our truth. Perception of reality can be a different lens depending on the energy behind it. We don’t have to walk around with fake wooden smiles across our faces or manically laugh when we’re not feeling super great. But… just to be open to the little flowers of old school joy and laughter that are punching their way though the cracks of the Covid and political sidewalks. Let them be what they are. You can find beauty, revelation and happiness anywhere…even on The Bachelor.
