It was so weird to see empty shelves in the grocery store and fairly crowded isles.
People stockpiling their cupboards for the unknown that is to come.
And, I will admit, I too added a few extra items, to fatten up our shelves. But mostly it was my weekly shopping trip.
The over shopping was fueled by the run on toilet paper.
We are all envisioning the empty shelves increasing, and it seems there are other items that are going the way of toilet paper.
I have not experienced this panic before.
Part of me wants to prepare,
and the other part wants to be the calm in the storm.
To be reasonable with the unknown.
We haven't lived through a pandemic, or even extreme shortages, and we haven't been asked to survive with minimal resources.
I have been listening to many different podcasts on the topic of the virus, and what we can expect and/or do.
The one I loved today was with Tim Ferris and Jack Kornfield "How to Find Peace Admist COVID 19".
So, we are being asked to be less social, to spend more time alone and at home. There are many things we can do during this time that will impact our lives in a positive way.
We can see it as being on retreat. On doing things at a slower more relaxed pace. Using this time as spare time. Time to do things we typically have no time to do.
We can meditate, write, do art, and enjoy time with ourselves and those we live with. Taking a break from social commitments and life that often flows at speeds that make us breathless. Use this as a relaxing resting time. We now have a real reason to be alone.
This may also be the time to practice letting go of control and focusing on the present moment and what we have, and how we are today.
Acknowledging the fear; but not giving it too much attention.
Rather focus on what this extra time and space is offering us.
What I mostly do not want to do is be part of the panic and rush, that is emptying out the shelves to hoard items at random.
This is asking each of us, do you want to be part of the panic or the calm in the storm?
What can we do that is reasonable, and even helpful. Who can we help and how?
I would rather find alternative ways to replace toilet paper, than be that person who has cases - in case.
We need to think outside of the box, to explore and expand the way we see things.
Most of us could live for weeks on what we have in our cupboards, me included. But, we may have to get inventive on what we eat and how much.
I am one of the few, who would love to be told to stay home for a few weeks. There are projects upon projects I could work on and quilts and art and things I could explore.
We seem to panic when others panic, instead of going against the grain.
Let's all try and tackle this virus with calm and reason. And, to know there are many different ways in which we can move through this challenge. We can either be part of the problem or part of the solution.
We can restrain the impulse to join the panic and lean towards reasonable.
This whole toilet paper deal feels like a visual example of what a panic thought does. It focuses on the wrong thing, and acts in ways that don't make sense, to the reality of what is truly going on.
The one panic thought, leads to another and it follows folks who are acting unreasonable.
Having an excess of toilet paper will not protect you from the virus.
Mostly, what we need to focus on, is what will protect us from panic.
Being in the present and maybe even believing we will be okay; that we will know what to do when the time comes. Trying to guess or know what is unknowable, is where the anxiety lies.
Instead believe in you and your ability to adapt to what it will require of you.
Calm is knowing you will be okay, no matter what.
Panic has never solved a problem.
(I had to look up panic "sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior." Hence the run on toilet paper.)
