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Discovering quality of life

33Nicolas's picture

There was something in the air today again, no pun intended. It was more about something was missing in the air. It took me a little while to realize the absence of air traffic noise.

The last time I heard that lack of noise was living in New York City after 9/11. The time before that was when I was a kid roaming the hills of my native south of France. There weren't a lot of airplanes above our heads then. Life simply was. There was a Universe of things to do outside.

I'm seeing something amazing happening in our Southern Californian city. People are talking to one another. People are sitting outside in parks with babies. People are engaging with one another. I've met people I had only seen before but never spoken. Yes, people are worried. Many are losing their jobs, others learning to work from home. But overall, people are communicating, talking to one another. Boy, people sound like fun again!

Our mayor is astonished that people are not staying at home. I'm stunned he's stunned. Why would they? After spending all their time chasing money, running around, they have downtime. Why would they stay at home? They're going out and seeing others doing the same. They are getting acquainted with quality of life.

But, yes, people shouldn't congregate on the busy beach path and playing sports in close contact outside. I see parties braving the imposed "social distancing". Staying a few feet away from one another means squelching the pandemic spread of the virus. That puts all of us at risk.

Are we having a taste of what quality of life is? Could it have been something as devastating as a fast-spreading virus to do that?

Either way, some are electing to risk lives, others stay at home and some are careful. Isn't that life, a gigantic quantum kaleidoscope?

Good news is trickling in

33Nicolas's picture

Despite the dismal mainstream news, some Covid-19 news is positive, but you have to hunt it down.

I'm lucky to read European news, as well as the US and Asia. My Chinese friends keep me up to date on what is happening in the country. In fact, at the moment, they worry that we are too individualistic and don't follow the rules. Case in point, Italy, and France had to toughen their stay-at-home orders in order to curb the pandemic spread of the Coronavirus.

I read that young folks in the old part of Nice, France are asking older folks if they can help with groceries. Being particularly prone to the virus, elders are staying home and avoid going out.

As I walk my friends' dogs, I see more people on the streets than ever before in southern California. What's strange or perhaps pleasing is that everyone talks. Of course, there is the occasional older person who stays clear from anyone walking in the street. Overall, this Covid-19 virus might actually deliver the long-awaited positive reactions. People are talking. People are going outside to exercise. At least, that's what I'm seeing.

It's important to keep spotting out the positive news. I just lost my biggest job. It didn't p[ay much, but it gave me a lot of publicity. I was stubborn. I kept at it even though I was burned out. It had been over a long time but I thought if I kept at it something good would happen. It was quite the other way around. Now, I'm looking for what I want to do next.

My, what interesting times we're living! And this being is ready for the next human race evolution stage.

Day of Happiness, let's make it international

33Nicolas's picture

Today is the International Day of Happiness. How appropriate.

I walked my friends' dogs again, as I do every day. Dogs are amazing reminders of unbridled enthusiasm and unconditional love. As I read my favorite posts on the Galactic Free Press.

The Creator Writings says: "As everything becomes quieter, take time to connect with The Universe and do a little planning. (Smiling) Reassess your goals, begin new manifestations, indulge in some sorely needed self-care and take time clearing/cleaning your inner space."

And Trinity Esoterics says: "allow the news that tracks the corona virus to give you a clear visual of how far and efficiently your love can spread, sending ripples of compassion and healing across your globe."

How perfect both are! I see the thread, that Universal thread we are all experiencing. It's a huge change imposed on us. We are at crossroads. When at a crossroad, just take it. Isn't that how the saying goes?

My favorite new sport of the day is to hunt how many non-Coronavirus (Covid-19) news stories I can find. So far it was dismal. In mainstream news media, 2 out 20.

So if we are to stay at home, isn't it time to re-evaluate our lives, our goals, how we spend our time and conduct our lives?

I feel I've waited for this moment all my life. I'm ready.

Hands across the globe

33Nicolas's picture

Friends and colleagues from China have been telling me for weeks that they worry about us. Who's us? Us, westerners.

The reason was put this way. Us westerners don't follow the rules well. We're too "free-spirited". I had to pause to digest this one. Being free-spirited can be a bad thing? And then it hit me.

While we are inching towards a complete lockdown in the west, a good two months after Asia went into full repair mode, I hear stories of companies still keeping their employees at work. This comes on the heel of local authorities asking everyone to stay at home unless they absolutely have to go to work.

One of my Asian friend's worry was that we would go to work because we fear to lose workdays and not get paid. The worry is warranted. Our healthcare structure is not made to handle emergencies, even less pandemic problems.

While authorities are grappling with how to ask people to stay at home, the underlying problem remains. What is needed for a population to feel secure its health is more important than the finances of giant corporations? Perhaps, this Covid-19 is a blessing in disguise. Now that many are home. We can take the time to examine our values and the lives we lead. I know I'm re-evaluating everything. For the first time in a decade, I'm contemplating a career move.

What's that sound?

33Nicolas's picture

I wondered what it was.

What's that sound?

I've heard it before.

Kids playing? Today? In the middle of that day? Covid-19 fearful adults lining up at supermarkets? When was the last time I heard kid laughter?

Walking the dogs I heard something I couldn't make out. Like birds chirping, an unadulterated cacophony of fun. I couldn't wrap my head around. I couldn't understand what it was until I saw them. Three kids, belly laughing, riding their skateboards on their stomachs on the sidewalks. It was surreal. They weren't on their so-called smartphones. They're too smart for that :) They were playing. Real playing! They were using their digits, body, and legs to have fun outside. They were simply having fun, the way we gray-haired folks used to when we were young ones.

A half-hour later, it got better. There were now four. A young girl tagged along. The leader had a bike. He pulled two boys on their stomach riding their skateboard and the young girl joined.

When was the last time I heard that?

48 years ago.

Hush...

33Nicolas's picture

The air smells the same.

The clouds in the sky have the same shape.

The ground beneath my feet still feels the same.

Nothing feels different except for the lingering feeling.

 

That feeling is that of an expectation fed by media frenzy.

One country stands above the noise, Taiwan.

 

And it feels like the quiet before the storm.

There is a palpable feeling of wait until it hits.

Whatever it is, that “hit” has no shape and no shadows.

But its anticipation runs deep with anxiety.

 

Surprisingly, I feel quiet and grounded.

The flood of anxiety has given way to inner quietude.

 

I’ve seen worse, much worse. I feel I’ve been through so many catastrophes. This is no different. They might not have been in this lifetime. Some feel so old, they are ingrained in my DNA. I don’t know why. I just have a vague sensation. Today, we sense a wave coming. Its swelling is a tsunami that already washed out Europe.

 

What’s next? Quiet quietude. Sitting quietly getting in touch with the inner Master. There’s nothing much we can do but recap, regroup, learn the high lessons, cement the foundations, and sit firmly grounded in Love, with a capital L.

What else is there to do?

1, 2, 3, and you are free: 3 phases of personal development

SENAD's picture

Did you hear the saying that one exercise is more worthy than thousands of readings? It’s a new one:)

There are 3 personal development phases.

1. Informing is a theoretical phase in which you gather information with reading, viewing, listening and talking about the matter.

There are thousands of different religions, cults and sects on Earth presenting themselves as “spiritual”. So-called spiritual life means that the spiritualities are more or at least so important that materialities.

I don’t use that term because is not accurate. Even monks in monasteries live some kind of “material” life. Only “spiritual life” in the physical body is impossible. Forced limiting, renouncing and even sacrificing as isolation in monasteries, hierarchical order, harsh discipline and punishment for sins, uniforms, head shaving, celibacy, rituals, etc are not useful for personal development. Quite contrary, they are very harmful.

The main point of personal development is awareness of the true identity of Being of Pure Awareness, releasing of old Ego partial personalities and their harmful behaviors, and natural, real and honest living of nice and friendly beings.

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