These are Crazy Times

These are crazy times. Yes, crazy because of how the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives, and in some ways is still wreaking havoc. Crazy because politics are more divisive, and ugly; and politicians more willing to divide than unite to win re-election. Crazy because, in 2022, you can still walk into a school or grocery store and kill randomly, and those in positions of power who can enact measures aimed at curbing gun violence still do nothing. Crazy, yes, because a madman wages an illegal war against Ukraine…and what is the world really doing to stop it?

And it doesn’t stop there.

Crazy, still, because of the expectation to be connected 24/7 (according to Gartner, Inc., “[…] worldwide smartphone sales grew 6% in 2021”[efn_note]“Gartner Says Global Smartphone Sales Grew 6% in 2021,” Gartner, March 2, 2022, https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-03-01-4q21-smartphone-market-share [/efn_note]). In this me-first world, trying to keep up can lead to exhaustion and overwhelm. And, lately, that’s exactly where I find myself.

It’s not so much about finding balance anymore as it is about cutting out the noise. To do that, it means taking an inventory of my life. How am I spending my time? Am I focused on what’s important — family, friends, my passions? And by cutting out the noise, I’m seeing that there’s a natural ebb and flow to life. There is stillness and calm, and joy in my heart. And with it comes the strength and determination to, day by day, keep on keeping on.