Opportunities.

Archery Class

I lay awake at night and I think about how terrified and fearful the world appears sometimes.
 
For instance, the H1N1 swine flu that was going around a while back.  I don't know if the media was blowing things out of proportion, but people seemed to show so much fear of loss. There was so much talk of social distancing.

If people think that flu was bad, they won't know what the heck is going on when some recombinant flu (H5N1 mixed with H1N1) creates some mega super-flu that travels person to person and is more than 50% fatal. The swine flu was just a few % of fatality.  It's hard to imagine how crazy everyone might become if some outbreak of small pox occurs. It's like I am watching a bad movie building scenes right before my eyes as I study, read, and observe the world.

I think of these times as Opportunities.

I DID catch the swine flu and it was arduous - but not too painful.  It started with a really major headache (and I NEVER get headaches).  The virus mutates in the body so it lasted over 3 months.  On three occasions I thought I was healthy and well, but became symptomatic all over again. I never went to the doctor.  I just recovered and let the viruses do its thing in my body.  I felt lucky to catch the swine flu because I wanted the opportunity to build these particular antibodies in case it does mix with other viruses.  I wanted to be stronger. I love challenging the body -- whether I am working out or working on the immune system.

I think people just freak out in circumstances like this because they don't live each day like they are going to die tomorrow.  If each of us lived every day like this, we would probably do everything much more committed and consider all the choices we make more fully every minute. We would seize each moment as opportunities. We would be able to see what is before us more clearly and appreciate every breath we take more deeply.  And love each other more truly.

I just wish for others a vision that is more bright and not so full of fear.  I want others to be at peace.  I want people to not feel so disturbed.  It saddens me that they might be sad or scared.  There's not anything I can do about it.  I can only "be" by example. 

Swine Flu?  What swine flu?