Dose of Optimism #10

Even if you don’t know somebody who has been a victim of the coronavirus, you are probably feeling a sense of grief.  Perhaps you are mourning the freedom to visit with family and friends (other than via Zoom). Or maybe you’re acutely feeling the loss of human contact from your place of work, your gym, or even the local park. Perhaps you‘re just mourning the loss of the world we knew before all this happened.

But this might be exactly the right time to feel hopeful too.

While we might not all be doing some of our usual Spring activities, the calendar continues unabated, and this month marks three of most meaningful holidays for three of the world’s major religions.  First, this Wednesday night starts the Jewish holiday of Passover. Then on Friday and Sunday are the Christian celebrations of Good Friday and Easter. And then later this month on the evening of April 23rdstarts the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. 

Each of these holidays mark, in their own way, a time of spiritual renewal for those who celebrate. Passover celebrates the triumph of freedom over bondage, Easter celebrates the rising of spirit over pain, and Ramadan reminds us of importance of devotion and community.

So it’s fitting that this month, as we feel a sense of both worry and grief for the terrible toll that this pandemic is creating, that we also have a triad of spiritual reminders that this too shall pass.   These holidays teach us that grief occurs not because we have nothing to love, but because to realize the value of what we love, we must sometimes endure pain, sacrifice, and even loss. 

But as the optimists say, hope springs eternal. 

And so will we.

Here are a few doses of optimism to keep your spirit soaring this week.

Yes. This week it might feel hard to be human. But it will be revelatory too, because “part of the dignity, even beauty, of humanity lies precisely in our ability to rise to the challenges we face.” (via Fox News)

What does Passover and a Pandemic have in common? Well, for those familiar with the Passover story (or watched The Ten Commandments) you’ll be happy to know that this sea too shall split.  (Seth’s newest blog via the Times of Israel)

Maybe you’re just generally interested in some spiritual resources to help you feel a sense of personal renewal in a time of grief?  Here is a great resource page with a diverse range of spiritual practices to help you overcome worry and grief.  And there are plenty like it, whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or practice Eastern traditions.

Not super into the spiritual? Lots of people aren’t. So here are some other coping strategies to manage the anxiety and grief you might be feeling. (via Vox)