The sirens seem to go all the time here and there are moments when this constant reminder of the danger is hard to take. But the sirens also connect me. They connect me to the passenger and allow me to offer a silent prayer. They connect me to the EMT’s, firefighters and policemen and allow me to wonder when their last meal was. And they connect me to you, those who are also stuck in their homes, listening to the sirens as well.
The sirens also remind me to be grateful. Grateful that we have so many ambulances here and that we have so many dedicated people on the front lines. Grateful that our hospitals are filled with such brave, smart and capable people. And grateful, despite the seriousness of this virus, that there are so many people helping at this time.
Helping is such a natural part of who we are. We instinctively want to help people we love and those who are suffering. Helping others gives our lives meaning. Some, like first responders, have devoted their lives to helping professionally. But we all help in our own way.
Quarantining at home with no medical training or background in Epidemiology, it is easy to feel helpless in this situation. But do not discount the small things that you are doing for others each day. Just in the past few weeks, people have helped me out in all sorts of ways. From a kind word from a stranger at the grocery store (from six feet apart), to my upstairs neighbors letting me use their washer and dryer, to my mom lending me her car, the help from others has really made a difference.
Giving food and cooking for someone is a natural way to help. You will notice that with every family emergency and funeral and even in a global pandemic, food shows up. We may not know how to fix peoples’ circumstances but we know that dropping off casserole, soup or banana bread on someone’s doorstop will help in some small way. Helping others matters and so does helping yourself. And whether you are helping yourself to another serving of mashed potatoes or taking daily walks around the neighborhood, it’s all getting us through this time.
This week, let’s talk about the extra helping of food that you’ve had and all the helping you are witnessing where you are.