Typing out the title of this article immediately reminded me of the opening of the classic Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . ."
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of
incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Do you have your own way that you have described the past four months? (Yes, it has only been four months!) I sat down the other day with pen and paper and within a few minutes, I had made quite the list of seemingly mundane things that have now come to the forefront of our thoughts on a daily basis.
Face masks | Working from home | Online shopping | Zoom meetings | Puzzles
Binge watching | New acceptance of technology | hand sanitizer | no handshaking
DIY home improvement projects | Homeschooling | Carryout food (GrubHub, UberEats)
Drive In movies | Teledoc appointments | Staying home | Plexiglass Shields
No Buffets | Virtual parties, graduations, and proms | No traffic jams on the freeways
Hoarding toilet paper/disinfectant | Baking your own bread | Stranger danger
Standing 6 feet apart | Washing hands | “Tiger King” | No hugging
And with words: Lockdown | We’re all in this together | Stay safe
Flattening the Curve | social distancing | pandemic | Together Apart
Do you have anything to add to this list? (Please write them in the comments below or email me. I’m going to keep the list going!)
Most of all, though, are you going to be able to remember these difficult, uncertain, challenging, and unprecedented times as something different? Maybe helpful, resolved, decisive, and extraordinary. Two sides of the same coin. It’s all in how you look at it. As Rotarians, let’s look for the opportunities.
