The Rhythm of our Lives has Changed

“The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else

than in the human heart,

in the human power to reflect,

in human meekness and human responsibility.”

Vaclav Havel

The rhythm of our lives has changed.

I believe that is for the best. We are slowing down, paying attention, taking time to reflect on what matters most, and making different choices.

Life is essentially about making choices. We choose, experience, reflect on what we have learned (hopefully), and make more choices.

The step that is most often missed is reflection. Skipping that step robs us of the learning that could result from the willingness to stop and reflect.

Reflection is as simple as asking ourselves: How was that? What went well? What didn’t work? If I did it again, would I do it differently What’s next? Am I willing?

We are living in a time that demands reflection and making conscious choices not only for ourselves, but for those around us.

Am I willing to isolate for the sake of others? Am I willing to offer to help those I can with access to food or medicine?

Am I willing can be a hard question.

This is a time that can provoke the best and the worst of human behavior.

Hopefully, when this subsides and those of us who are still here look around, we will make choices that reflect our learning. We will slow down, pay attention, commit to meaningful connections and lives of purpose, generosity, and vulnerability.

Or, we may go back to the way it was.