Coronavirus, or COVID 19 as it is sometimes called. I never thought I would be writing about this when I started my health and wellness blog back in January 2020. Coronavirus, “Originated in bats, then jumped to an intermediary species — most likely pagolins, pigs, or civets — that passed it to people,” according to Business Insider. On New Year’s Eve 2019, Chinese Health officials informed the World Health Organization about a group of 41 patients with a unique type of pneumonia. Most were associated with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in the city of Wuhan, China. It is likely that the virus started spreading as early as November 2019. To date there are 1,258,198 know cases worldwide of COVID 19. From zero to over a million in less than 4 months–all around the world. That’s scary and we are in a world of hurt.

It’s likely, from the numbers that I have seen, that this week or more likely next week we will be heading straight in to the thick of it. At least where I live in rural northern Wisconsin. As a nurse, it’s like living in the space between the earthquake and the tsunami. Maybe it will manifest as a wave running along the shoreline, or, maybe it is going to sweep over us and take away parts of our lives as we know them changing us forever. I’m finding my inner peace these days in sunsets, birds singing, and spring flowers blooming. I can feel myself turning inward, mustering strength. And, I know that life will go on after COVID 19.

I pray for each of you and for this broken world to heal. May we hug longer, squeeze tighter, and say “I love you” more now and after this pandemic has passed over us. May we come out of this stronger and more resilient. May we slow down and live in the moment from now on, treasuring sunrises and sunsets, the smell of a fresh rainfall, the bright blue color of the sky. Hold on tight, drive hard and head straight into this thing. Let us glean whatever life lessons we can from this as it rolls over us. Make your best decisions. Stay strong. Stay focused.

“At some point, everything’s gonna go south on you…everything’s going to go south and you’re going to say, this is it. This is how I end. Now you can either accept that, or you can get to work.. That’s all it is. You just begin. You do the math. You solve one problem…and you solve the next one…and then the next. And if you solve enough problems, you get to come home.” –Mark Watney as played by Matt Damon in the movie The Martian”