Readings and Such To Consider - 4/17/20
Books and Articles worth a Review…
Step Back for A Moment – It is times like these where we need to step back and reflect on all of the changes occurring across the entire world and in all societies. We’ve just passed through the celebration of Easter and Passover with Ramadan coming upon us as well in the next few weeks. These are times when we stop and reflect. But, it’s not only the religious holidays that bring about reflection. It is also the gaps in time we are experiencing, in large measure, because we are now hunkered down (or, at least many of us) with irregular schedules. Amidst all of the news cycles and the back-and-forth of political machinations related to the pandemic, I wanted to pass along an absolutely wonderful moment of reflection. Andrea Bocelli – from my perspective – is the most wonderful tenor in the world. I love his voice and his presence when he sings. He recently gave a concert on Easter Sunday from the Duomo di Milano – an absolutely wonderful cathedral in central Milan – with no one in attendance except the organ player who was appropriately engaged in social distancing. It’s worth your time to hear him sing Music For Hope. Take one of those moments you’ve been given and listen to him. Close your eyes and reflect. The pandemic will pass. We will survive. There are many challenges that lie ahead. But, we can and will be resilient. It is the American way. In fact, it is the human way. Enjoy!
Grief and the Era of Unrelenting Change – David Kessler recently gave an interview with the Harvard Business Review on the different types of grief we are experiencing as we proceed through the pandemic which has engulfed all of us. As noted in the quote above, we’ve lost the “normalcy” of life. There’s the financial concerns we all have! And, we’re disturbed by the radical changes in how we connect with people. No more hugs. No more handshakes. But, boy is there Zoom – lots and lots of Zoom! Emotions are running high for everyone, in all groups, for all families. Kessler talks about the fact that we tend to gravitate in period of significant grief toward the future…towards loss…towards death. Life starts to seem like an endless storm on the horizon – just like the tornados that swept across Arkansas and Missouri this past week. We are no longer safe so it seems. We see crowds forming in Detroit where angry folks from small towns gather to protest a Governor’s decision to continue shelter-in-place programs. But, more than the protests – these angry folks are shouldering rifles and waving guns in protest as well. Then, there are the death threats to Anthony Fauci, MD – a leader who is simply trying to share the truth and give us guidance in the midst of chaos. Why, oh why would people threaten him? This is crazy…and, the grief worsens. But, we are safe! Now is the time when we need to come together – perhaps in different ways but come together nonetheless. During World War II, when we came together – we mobilized, we responded, we supported one another – despite the fear, the disruptions, anxiety of invasion. And, it happened again during the crazy time of the late 1950s and early 1960s when many of us learned to hunker down under our tiny desks in classrooms all across American in the event of nuclear war (BTW, that was a crazy response to teach us). Then, there was the destruction of the World Trade Towers – a time that is emblazoned in my memory as it is for many Americans. Yes, all of the changes are hitting us but we will persevere if we come together. Now is the time. The best thing that has happened for me is when my book club guy friends decided to meet once a week on Zoom to simply connect. We gather. We commiserate. We share. We joke. We talk politics. We put it aside and talk food of the week. We connect. We should all reach out and connect. Now is the time to come together. Grief hangs in the air but it is a passing phenomenon. Keep your head high and your thoughts clear. BTW, the Kessler article is very good. Take a read…
