JAKOB'S JOURNAL

COVID-19 Stories

March 24th, 2020

5 years from now, assuming that most of us are still in good health, we’re all going to have CoronaVirus stories to tell.

Today, I planned to journal about that. The first topic I wrote down was:

What is the story, that I hope to be telling people 3 years from now, about my time throughout this COVID-19 crisis and how it changed my life?

“Oh man, crazy times, I sooooo took advantage of that time to [insert something that you know would be good to do during this odd time… like, relax, or start a new skill or hobby, or spend time with your wife, or write a book, or initiate a relief effort, etc]…”

My initial thoughts felt abnormally bland, to be honest. Strangely, I’m not sure that any of that is driving my decisions right now. Not because it wasn’t meaningful stuff, it just felt like any other ‘goals list’ might, or some sort of cheesy, positive outlook practice.
Not what I was looking for, so, I didn’t write anything down, haha.

Then, I flipped it over, gave it a shake, and blew the dust off.
I realized that I’d asked the wrong question.

What I needed to be asking was:

What is the story, that I desperately HOPE I DON’T have to be telling people 3 years from now, about my time throughout this COVID-19 crisis and how it changed my life?

Ahh, ok.
I’ve realized that this is a time of not having regrets, and that’s relevant in multiple contexts.

In 3 years on the day, I’m going to share my answers with you. Right here. I think that’d be cool, and I’d regret it if I shared them now and then forgot all about it.

If you decide to follow the journal prompt today, which I always advise that people do, and you feel confident enough to share it, please do. I’d love to read other folks’ ideas and perspectives on a podcast, and can do so anonymously if needed, too.

JOURNAL PROMPT:

What is the story, that I desperately HOPE I DON’T have to be telling people 3 years from now, about my time throughout this COVID-19 crisis and how it changed my life?
Some Go Right

March 23rd, 2020

“In times of crisis, some run toward the fight.“

– U.S. Navy, magazine ad (circa 2009)

Helpful or hurtful—our actions, in crisis,
speak volumes of our character at heart.

Our decisions right now will expose, transparently, the sort of person we are
and the sort of person we’ve been.
What we do will also impact, greatly, the sort of person that we’ll become.

Some are bickering and bashing.
Some are exploiting the weak.
Some are lying, and some are leveraging.

Some are afraid of the truth.
Some are afraid that nobody knows.
Some are afraid that what’s true today, may change tomorrow.

Some are working, and
Some are playing, while others are resting their mind.

Some are nurses, doctors, and caretakers—We know who they’ve been, and we know what they’ve been called to do now.
Some are new, the riveters—the Rosie’s and Randy’s—sowing masks and delivering goods.
Some are just laying low, and trying to act responsibly.

Some are suffering immensely.
Some are suffering and still might lend a hand.

Some are acting for the best of our people, in mind or in deed, and…
Some are not.

In times of crisis, some run toward the fight.
Some-ONE like you and I,
will run one way, or not…
Go Right.

This is the magazine clipping that inspired my journaling today. It’s been hanging on my wall for years, and has traveled with me from state to state. Simple ad, powerful message.

Reading suggestion | “Going Right” by Logan Gelbrich
Logan is a leader of people, and a proponent of Mt. Botl. I figured I’d throw this reference in, as the finishing line, “Go Right”, is his mantra. It’s about logically justifying a worthy pursuit, and he talks about why we ought to be chasing our peak expression in everything we do. — fitting for this post, today.
(un)Common Conversations

March 22nd, 2020

At (literally) any time, we could log on, hit the feed, and we wouldn’t have to scroll very far to find an argument, or seven.

We could join the argument.
We could cast out our opinion, logically (I’d hope).

We could also say nothing.
Maybe even choose to unfollow the arguers, the dividers.

OR, we could start our own conversation — about joy and camaraderie.
Maybe we’d tell a story about optimism, or duty, or promote the ‘option for action’.

We could do any of that. Our choice.
When we’re deciding, though, it’s worth noting that we could probably find an argument anywhere, at any time, if that’s the sort of thing we set out for.
Starting a new, positive conversation? Now that’s uncommon.
The Dividers

March 21st, 2020

Of the dividers, be wary.
Of those that poke and prod, but smile and nod,
then point and blame, but have no shame.

They play the game, they play the game.

We are all more similar than we are dissimilar, but the divider’s don’t understand that.
We are all, to some varying degree,
confused,
inadequate,
flawed,
emotional… people.

But we are all people.

We all love our children.
We all yearn for meaning in our lives, and we all wish life was fair.
We all bleed red.
There is no ‘us‘ and ‘them’, there is only us,

But us is vast.

The bigger us gets, the harder it becomes to understand folks on the far ends.
So, we shout.

It’s not always shouting-in-anger as much as it is shouting-to-be-heard that we, in the middle, hear flying over our heads all day.

If we can help people understand that this is the noise we hear and see, we’ll all be better for it.

The dividers, though?
They like it this way.
So have not a doubt.
They, in shadows, cultivate the crop
— ‘Divide and Shout’.

I know,
that you know,
people like this.

Pay them no mind,
and spend no time,
playing in their games.

We mustn’t play in their games.

Our attention
is their lifeblood.
The thing about ‘difficult’

March 20th, 2020

Difficult things would be easy, but they aren’t.

Easy is swift.
Want quick?
Pass on difficult, opt for easy.

Difficult is rewarding.
What’s the tradeoff?
Difficult is often slow, the path is narrow and horrifying,
and it tends to get lonely for a stretch.
Difficult things linger.
They smell and they nag,
but they don’t stay that way forever,
and difficult things will ALWAYS be rewarding.

Step by step, we will attract others that do the difficult thing. To be honest, that’s where the real fun begins.

A CASE FOR CHASING DIFFICULT

If we succeed, we’re the best sort of success. Humbled by trial, noble, bold, and brave.
If we fail, we learn difficult lessons, and our growth is exponential.

There comes a time, for all of us, independently or collectively, that difficult things simply cannot be avoided. What then?

For those that chose difficult previously?
Everything seems easy.

COVID-19 Stories

Some Go Right

(un)Common Conversations

The Dividers

The thing about ‘difficult’