May 11, 2020: Adaptability

image courtesy of badalyanrazmik via pixabay.com

Monday, May 11, 2020
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Saturn Retrograde

A few weeks (or maybe it was months?) ago, I talked about the need for flexibility. Life throws curve balls; how we deal with them has a lot to do with achieving our goals and dreams.

It has never been truer than what we’re going through right now. If we get careless or lazy or distracted or bored, we could, very literally, die. Or kill someone else.

Those of us able to work remotely are doing so. Despite bosses and managers who are convinced that if they can’t stare at us in their own space while we do it, it must not be “real work.” Hopefully, that is one positive change that will come out of this – that, in some professions, they realize we don’t have to be onsite to do our work, and, often, we do it better without them looming and interrupting. Because, let’s face it, it was never about productivity. It’s always been about control.

We are learning how to navigate out of the house wearing masks. At least, those of us who actually give a damn about other human beings are doing so. Many of us are making masks. We are learning to plan ahead – we can’t just run out to the grocery store for “one thing.” We are learning that we need less.

We are finding our inner resources and inner life. We have days when we feel like we can take on the world, and days where anything sets us off into tears. Sometimes we feel all of that in the space of a day, a few hours, a few minutes.

Parents are learning how to be co-teachers in an online learning environment, and kids are learning a new way of socializing that’s even more dependent on technology than before.

We are learning that the people we trusted to handle basic issues of living in society have failed us, and that they don’t give a damn how many of us die, as long as they can profit.

How we adapt to all of these new rules of living so that we can actually stay alive, and how we step up to shape the rules moving forward to that we remain alive to LIVE a life means we have to be both adaptable and smart.

Humans have the capability. But do we have the will? History will tell us, even if we’re not here for the answer.

On a daily basis, we need to remember that our actions have consequences. We need to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We need to, as much as is possible, distance ourselves from those who wish us harm, or are so selfish they don’t care if we’re harmed as long as they can satisfy a whim of the moment. We need to figure out how to work together (even if we can’t be physically together) to fix what is broken in the system that got us to this point and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

On a personal level, I am working remotely as much as possible and minimizing contact when I’m forced out. I am only going grocery shopping, and as infrequently as possible, and occasionally doing curbside pickup for other things that I either can’t get delivered, or where I’d rather put the money into a small, local business than a big box store. I am keeping abreast of the facts and using them to make decisions moving forward.

I do not have “all this extra time” that so many talk or whine about. I have worked, flat out, a full work week ever since the stay-at-home has been in place here. I’m working for clients, pitching, sending LOIs, working on my contracted fiction, and trying to land as much freelance work as possible, since we’re in the worst shape since the Great Depression, and who knows when the work dries up completely?

I’ve ignored the snipes and sarcastic comments from those who wonder what I’m doing with all this “extra time.” I’m working as much as possible, and I’m also adapting to the fact that mere survival takes a good deal more time and energy than it used to. I was already in the process of cutting some deadwood out of my life; this accelerates the process.

We don’t know what the future has in store right now. All we can do is the best we can do, each day, be as kind as possible as long as our safety is not compromised, and our boundaries not breached.

Adapt.

How are you adapting?