Looking Back and Looking Forward

It’s an hour before midnight on a brisk Saturday evening in February. Downtown Boston’s residential streets often welcome imbibed wanderers, but tonight feels noticeably different - a bit eerie. A few packs of straggling twenty-somethings yell something at one another. An older man drives by, hurling an insult toward a young woman in our own group.

Unfortunately, better judgement has mandated I retire early for the night, along with my best friend and his girlfriend. The two of them battling colds, and myself fighting the insomnia inherent to late-night escapades and having just flown across international waters, we decide it best to head home.

Seated in the back right corner of the Uber we’ve just tumbled into, I mull over the thought which repeatedly surfaces whenever I find myself in a position far from my normal day-to-day existence: If someone had told me that, three years ago to this day, I’d be where I am in at this very moment, how would I have reacted?

I breach the subject with my traveling companions, who entertain my wandering mind as I list the experiences of my previous three years in a 30-second span. 

“If someone had guaranteed me that three years ago, I’d be traversing the suburbs of Boston with my best friend (why does he live in Boston?) and his girlfriend (who?) after I’ve just been in Europe, a trip inspired by seeing my favorite artist perform (Halsey, who is that?), and, on top of that, the next day I’d return to Connecticut (when did I move there?) to resume my job as a podcast producer (what actually is a podcast, and what’s a producer?)” I say.

My friends briefly acknowledge my point about the odd ways in which the world operates, but silence soon fills the car once again.

For the rest of the night and my bus ride home the following day, I remain entranced by the thought of the unpredictable nature of progress and how, even though it’s paramount to dedicate our energy to the power of the present moment, it’s also quite the exercise to inwardly reminisce and assess whether the status quo resemble the dreams we once laid out for ourselves in adolescence.

And just three weeks later, I again find myself asking that same question. Except this time, my answer feels a lot less personal.

If you had told me -- or anyone -- three years ago, let alone three weeks ago, that the state government, at President Trump’s initial urging, is forbidding me from leaving my home for any purpose other than what is subjectively deemed “essential?”, what would I have said? And that a deadly virus from China has sparked worldwide fear, caused a global economic collapse, shut down my beloved sports leagues, closed most public areas and most importantly, claimed innocent lives? And that this government-mandated self-isolation period, at its worst, could extend deep into the summer, and maybe even beyond?

If my college history professor had told me all of this in 2017, I would have stopped him at the moment he said Donald Trump still ran the country. 

And three years from now, considering the historic and unprecedented nature of the current state of affairs, I can’t help but wonder how we’ll collectively remember this moment. As a flash in the pan that left destruction in its wake surely, but actually dissipated faster than the experts predicted? Or, will those of us lucky enough to survive the pandemic, recall a four, five, six (or more) months-long shutdown of life’s most precious human experiences?

However the history books remember this moment, I’m confident in assuming we’ll emerge from this crisis as better participants in American society.  

Three years from now, if you can guarantee me that the lessons learned from this situation will improve us all as individuals, that the remaining years of our own existences will be filled with communal love, appreciation for one another, support for small, local businesses everywhere, a newfound respect for getting outside and interacting with the random people we pass on the street, then, and only then, would I argue a crisis like this, despite its massive tolls taken on every aspect of our lives, could maybe, possibly, pose some positive consequences.

In the meantime, I urge you to take the time to appreciate how far you’ve come, what you’ve persevered through in the past, what you’re persevering through right now, and where you hope to find yourself in three years. Even though it may not presently feel like it, that day will come sooner than you think.

The unacknowledged byproduct of tragedy is change. Rather than dwell on the overwhelming amount of negatives circulating, let’s instead focus on the positive and imagine the countless ways humanity will improve in direct response to this crisis.

Because three years from now, the world has the potential to be a much better place.

Let’s not waste the opportunity.

13 Ways to Beat the Coronavirus

I’m the biggest opponent of the “I don’t have time” excuse. I firmly believe that if we truly want to do something, then we’ll make time for it. 

No excuses now.

Per the latest recommendations from all of the major health organizations, the exponential spread of COVID-19 largely restricts us to the four walls of our homes. For the foreseeable future, and for the safety of the American population, we must stay inside and remain socially distant.

These will be challenging times. For a foreign, unknown force to suddenly strip the human existence of its most precious moments, feelings of helplessness will inevitably set in.

It’s safe to say we all now  -- in some capacity -- possess more free time on our hands than in our previous pandemic-stricken lives. And as my elders frequently tell me, challenge creates opportunity.

Rather than sink deeper into the couch watching Netflix, we can combat the coronavirus instead by focusing on self-improvement.

Here’s 13 ways we all can do that, and from the comfort of our own homes: 

1. Get informed: Whether it’s the local or national newspaper, these publications are providing the latest facts emerging during this pandemic. Sign up for an online subscription or a physical copy, both of which often come at a discounted price. Watch the local news. Listen to podcasts. It’s so important to stay informed as this unprecedented situation is rapidly changing by the day.

2. Read books: Set aside time to read every day, at least 30 minutes per sitting. You know that book on your shelf you’ve always told yourself you wanted to read someday? Someday has arrived. And as an alternative, Kindle books provide you with endless options and audiobooks also allow you to listen while performing another activity.

3. Watch educational documentaries: We’re all signed up for some sort of streaming service nowadays, all of which provide a vast catalog of children’s movies, horror films, comedies, chick flicks and more. But there’s also a bunch of documentaries, often shorter in nature, that teach you about myriad subjects you’re curious about. Ask a friend to watch the documentary on his/her own time as well, and then discuss at a later time.

4. Phone-a-friend: Text messages won’t get the job done for this indefinite amount of time. We need to hear the voices of our loved ones. Set aside time every day to call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Even better, check in on family members to see how they’re coping during these troubling times.

5. FaceTime meals: Want to get lunch with a friend? Well, it could be difficult considering so many of our favorite hangouts are closing down. Instead, set aside a time for a FaceTime lunch with a buddy. Simpy prepare your own meal and connect for a conversation with one another like you normally would at the burger joint down the street.

6. Write letters: Dust off that old quill, get some stamps and write letters to your friends and family sprawled all throughout the country! Get creative.

7. Exercise: With gyms closing down and our freedom-of-movement severely limited, it’s vitally important we stay active. If you’re working from home, take 15 minutes (or more) to get outside and stretch your legs, and do so several times a day. With spring around the corner, the “it’s too cold” excuse won’t fly. Plus, the sun provides essential vitamins we can’t receive by simply swallowing a pill. And for those seeking more intense exercise, the human body can do amazing things on its own: push-ups, sit-ups, planks, squats, lunges, to name a few. 

8. Stretch: Not many people take time each day to stretch, but now we have some time on our hands. Hold poses to stretch out your hamstrings, quads, lower back, calves -- really anything that can be stretched. This will help us all prevent the aches and injuries that often stop us from moving in the first place.

9. Spring cleaning: Everyone’s favorite activity! While you’re busy disinfecting all surfaces, take the time to dust the TV stand, vacuum up all the crud behind the refrigerator. Clean out your medicine cabinets and rid your food pantry of those expired cans of diced tomatoes. Revisit your closet and consider donating clothing to the less-fortunate. Free yourself from the material possessions that don’t add value to your life anymore. Digitize anything that can be digitized -- photos, important personal and work documents, whatever you can think of. Less is more.

10. Donate: If you’re healthy and/or financially able to do so, find a way to donate your time or money to help others. Consider running errands for those completely bound to their homes. Conduct research on charitable causes and donate funds to help American citizens receive the proper treatment.

11. Learn an instrument: On a similar note, dust off that old guitar you said you wanted to learn how to play. Find instructional YouTube videos to teach you the basics. Just don’t annoy the neighbors.

12. Home brewing: There’s a reason liquor stores are staying afloat during this time. But have you ever wanted to brew your own beer or make your own wine? There’s a bunch of easy-to-use home brewing kits out there. The fermentation process takes time (which you have), but a few homemade 8.0 % ABV New England IPAs sounds like a tasty way to live out the quarantine.

And you can roast your own coffee beans instead, but that’s less fun.

13: Meditation: Don’t roll your eyes. This practice is crucial. We must take time for ourselves and focus on our breath and innermost thoughts. Negativity and pessimism swirl around us from all angles, and it’s so important to temporarily deprive ourselves of those thoughts. Plus, it’s totally free. Find a cushion to sit on and simply inhale and exhale deeply to calm the thought waves of the mind.