It seems like we are stuck in a time loop out of a Groundhog Day movie plot! Day after day doing the same things in isolation, seeming like nothing matters. But it does … and has been heart-warming to see so much goodness in these challenging times! In the movie, when Bill Murray leaned into the experience and let go of trying to change it, he changed himself. He refined his understanding of humanity, found friends in people he wouldn’t have normally chosen, invested the time to self-improve (learned to play piano, language, ice-carving :)), and cared what happened to his community.

COVID19 is making me be a proud American AGAIN! People are taking this time to invest in the nurturing of their families, learn a new skill, language, instrument, gardening together as families, rendering service, exercise, yoga, finding mindfulness and using quiet times to create. Kids are sharing kindness by rock or chalk painting messages to lift another, exploring, developing sibling bonds and FINDING happiness in new places.

In the movie, Bill Murray begins to invest in his community – no one dies on my watch! Again, America, WE rise! So many on the front lines risking their lives for us – each one of us! So heart-warming to see company’s repurposing to fill the need, neighbors helping neighbors, shopping for the elderly and young moms, childcare for those that have to work, borrowing sugar, baby formula, eggs off of facebook, moms becoming home-school teachers and cafeteria chefs, being resourceful and making due with what we have, eliminating waste, repurposing, being frugal, all looking out for our fellow-man.

Honestly, before COVID19, I was loosing faith in our divided country and wondering if we would ever be able to unite. But despite what I hear on the news, or from politicians, I see Americans unite to love and lift each other in whatever place we are in … republican, democrat, race, religion or creed.

I’m going to steal Bill Murray’s words at the end of the movie because it mirrors my thoughts on this COVID19 season as well. (Editor liberty taken here.) “When (America) saw the long winter (COVID19), he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of (America) and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.”

COVID19 is another step in our life. It is upon us, and the key is how we react to it. From my lens, we are responding well – “basking in the warmth of our hearths and hearts” with BIG hearts! America Proud!