5 key lessons I will take with me into my Post-CoVid Life
As the world begins to make plans to loosen some of the coronavirus restrictions, I find myself reflecting on my and my family’s time in lock-down. Even though my husband and I are both essential workers in our fields and have both had to leave the house to go work, our life, like the billions of others on planet Earth, has definitely been significantly altered by the pandemic. I refuse to only take sadness and fear from the trips that were never taken, the milestones that did not get their full celebration, the hugs that were never felt or the goodbyes that were never said.
‘In the Chinese language, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters, one representing danger and the other, opportunity.’ –John F Kennedy
In my life, I have come to realize over and over again that within adversity lies the invaluable opportunity for reinvention.
So here are the 5 key lessons I will take with me into my Post-CoVid Life:
1. My behavior affects the world: We are seeing how physical distancing is helping to flatten the curve and slow coronavirus down. I use the term physical distancing instead of social distancing because, though we need to be physically distant from one another, it does not mean that we should be socially disengaged from each other. So, I have been asking myself about what personal sacrifices I can make to help slow down our current speedy track toward other crises: global warming, the destruction of biodiversity, socioeconomic disparities, to name a few.
There are simple and practical steps (similar to the simple and practical acts of staying at home and good hand hygiene) that I can take to reduce my carbon footprint, for example. I have been reading up a lot more about that recently and have found some excellent sources of information like this absolutely brilliant article in the New York Times →How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.
2. Socioeconomic disparities can no longer be ignored: The coronavirus pandemic has exposed how racial disparities in wealth and access to health care have led to much higher rates of death among minority and historically disenfranchised groups. Rather than being solely outraged, I am choosing to be motivated to make a difference. I am collaborating with colleagues who work in primary care to create and promote free evidence-based educational programs on disease prevention and optimal living.
If you are not in medicine, here are some important steps we ALL can take: vote for individuals who support raising the minimum wage and improving access to health care; be generous with your employees and give even more to those in need; support neighborhood health programs; learn about food deserts in your locale (areas where there is limited to no access to healthy food that is also affordable) and how you can help effect change.
Please check out this super informative article about food deserts by the Food Empowerment Project. Click→Here.
3. Health is wealth and time is money: My career advancement and financial stewardship goals must never ever compromise my investments in my health or my time with my husband, kids, family and friends. If you don’t prioritize your health, you can shorten your lifespan, or worse still, make your lifetime a miserable one. Also, if the coronavirus pandemic has taught anything, it is that no one is promised tomorrow and time, once lost, can never be reclaimed, so I continue to make the most of the present by prioritizing my health and those who matter the most to me.
4. Ethical and socially-responsible investing is a must: I have always been good about budgeting and saving money. However, now more than ever before, I am focused on using my moral and ethical principles to guide how I invest and how I spend my money. There is so much (SO SO MUCH) to learn, so I am doing a lot of reading and consulting with experts to design and execute a more socially responsible and morally sound investment portfolio. Here are some recommendations: Click→ here, here, here, and here.
When it comes to ethical and socially-responsible spending, now more than ever before, my focus is on the mantra: Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle! In my pre-CoVid life, I was quite decent about re-use and recycle. These days, I have gotten very serious about the reduce part. I am vetting my purchases via this simple screening question: How essential is this item?
5. Crafting my post-CoVid world with purpose will be advantageous: We have seen how non-essential operations have been shut down in the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the grave economic repercussions and the major disruption to social norms, we have adapted and continue to adapt to our current new normal. As I think about my post-CoVid world, it is clear to me that the majority of non-essential activities, tasks, routines of my pre-CoVid world will be trimmed so as to more easily achieve the ideal laser focus on my top priorities in life. So what are my (current) top 5 priorities: #1: Serving God #2: Living a healthy life. #3. Spending quality time with my husband, kids, close family and friends. #4. Being a good financial steward. 5. Increasing my academic productivity (peer-reviewed work, teaching and mentoring).
Please check out this brilliant (short) article on how to boost your productivity by applying Warren Buffet’s 25/5 rule. Click→ here. You will understand why I am talking about my top 5 priorities 😉
What key lessons have you learned and will you be carrying with you out of this crisis? Please share with me in the comment section below and let’s reinvent ourselves for the better.
Love,
Chichi
Very insightful and precise write up. Thanks Chy Bekee, for always taking time to drop helpful tips in various life facets❤❤❤❤👌👏👏👌.
Well done and keep it up, Boo!
Thank you so much for the consistent support and the feedback Rosie. You are so awesome. I am glad you liked the post 🥰
Great post, Chichi. During this period, I’m excited to be reading again and checking out new podcasts. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed learning new things!
Oh my gosh!!! Yesss! Reading and learning new things/skills, generating new ideas has been so revitalizing. Thanks Uddy. I appreciate your checking out my post 🥰❤
Beautiful piece. I always look forward to reading your posts. intelligently written 😊😊😊
Wow! Thank you so much for your kind compliments Winnie. I really appreciate your support and I am glad you found the post to be engaging. Best regards 🥰,
Chichi
Chichi, this was positive, insightful, beautiful, and inspirational. I agree with all your points and share your passion. Thank you for speaking up and making this issues and lessons public because we all need them.
Love you!
Thank you,
Marjorie
Marjorie,I truly appreciate your taking the time to read this post and give me feedback. I am so glad the points resonated with you. I hope to spark more conversation around this topic–still so much to learn. Love you right back my dear. 😍
Wow! I really love this article! I will have to revisit it to go through a lot of the links you dropped! So so good!! I have been using this time to refocus on what matter most – strengthening my faith/more prayer , revisiting my purpose/talents, spending time with loved ones, gaining financial literacy and preparing to start my next journey (residency). Two things that you put on my radar are social responsibility and carbon footprint. Once again, very well written!
Congratulations Uzoamaka!!! The future is bright and beautiful. Thank you so much for checking out my post and leaving me feedback. I so appreciate it. You are making all the right moves–keep at it and you will excel. I will be supporting and cheering you on! 😍
All this time and I didn’t know you had a blog… thank you for introducing me to your great work! I will be coming here often to catch up and glean from your insights. You’re awesome babe!
Awwww–thank you so so so much Ije. I really appreciate your kind compliments and your support. Thank you so much for checking out my blog 🙂