May 19, 2020
Blog post by Campus Ambassador Charles Reed
Before I begin, I would like to give my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus. This is a very unfortunate time and my heart goes out to the first responders as well.
When I first heard of the coronavirus, I did not understand the impact it would have on the entire world. Within weeks, it became one of the biggest pandemics in decades and it really left me speechless. I am a very talkative, extroverted person so yes, it is shocking for something to leave me speechless. I am in the world of ministry, so during this time, I received a lot of calls from friends and families asking for my take on this. I think most people expected me to try to look on the bright side or shed light on the situation, but it completely blindsided me and I could not process things. My sadness grew deeper and even showed glimpses of depression before I realized that there was an upside to this situation.
I believe that COVID-19 was meant to impact people in different ways and there is not a universal answer to what we should take away from this. I would like to talk about what I have learned from this experience and hopefully, it can be an encouragement to others out there.
During this time, I have realized that I fear to be alone because I am scared to deal with myself. I escape constantly in communities or groups because it is much easier than having a quiet conversation with myself. So, during this time I have made an effort to heal and grow closer to my spiritual beliefs. I would like to encourage you guys to spend time meditating and shutting out the noise. It can be so hard to think with media, music, television, TikToks and memes constantly on our brains.
Another thing that has been really encouraging to see is how families are growing closer during this time. I am seeing families reconcile differences and desire to communicate even with social distancing. I would like to recommend having a large Zoom call at least once a week to spend intimate time with your loved ones. Family is more important than anything, unfortunately, the business of life causes families to take a backseat. During this time, take advantage of the opportunities to connect with your loved ones every chance you get.
Lastly, this experience has taught me a lot of disciplines that I plan on carrying out even after the stay at home policy is dismissed. I started waking up at 6:30 a.m., meditating, then going for a jog or bike ride. For you guys, it might be going for a walk or doing yoga, but I really hope you guys are finding some healthy habits to form during this time.
Again, I take the coronavirus very seriously and my heart goes out to those who are impacted or know someone who is impacted. However, I do want to encourage you guys to find some light at the end of the tunnel and continue to work hard every day. Continue to grow yourselves and be a helping hand to the community and please follow the stay at home rules, so that we can beat this virus.
