We are all in this together

While coloring a mandala from the Limitless book yesterday, I realized the significance of its symbolism. This realization was especially poignant given our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. Mandala symbolically represents how the whole universe is connected in many cultures. We question this connection. The world seems so large and disconnected most of the time. But this experience that the whole world is going through together shows us how deeply connected we are. This is unprecedented in my lifetime. Everyone around the world is experiencing the same thing, no matter where we live.

The health of the world is dependent on the health of each nation. The health of the nation is dependent on the health of the communities we live in. The health of the community is dependent on the health of each individual. Similarly, each individual is responsible for the health of their communities, nations, and the health of the world. We need to remember that our actions will have a ripple effect and affect the communities beyond ours. So it is for each of us to act responsibly by following the guidelines specified by our respective governments.

I am grateful that during a time like this, we still can connect and converse with whoever we want. We can learn anything we want from our homes. I understand how it is distressing because of the uncertainty and fluidity of the situation. However, we do not have control over that at this point. We must do our part to help contain this problem. Meanwhile, let us try to use this time to focus our energies on something productive.

Here is a list of activities (shared by a friend on Facebook) you could do with your children –

• Read, read, read!
• Teach them a new board game. Or ask grandma or grandpa to teach them over FaceTime.
• Take a walk in the woods. Alone. After all, they didn’t cancel school so that everyone would make play dates and take the kids out to run errands.
• Watch nature shows.
• Create a play. Make costumes from whatever they can find at home.
• Teach them how to write and mail letters to relatives.
• Teach them how to do chores. Kids as young as 3 & 4 can set and clear the table. They can wipe the table, sweep and mop the dining room and kitchen at the end of the night.
• Demonstrate how to research something that interests them.
• Paint, draw, create. Find some great art online and try to replicate it.
• Cook and bake together. Look up new recipes to try together.
• Camp out in the backyard.
• Look for four-leafed clovers and find shapes in the clouds.
• Teach them about photography and composition.
• Let them take apart an old hairdryer or electronic equipment. See if they can re-purpose some of the parts.
• Write stories. Teach them about the setting, plot, and character development. Or show them how to research these things online
• Listen to different genres of music and have them dance out how it makes them feel.
• Learn how to sew, knit, or crochet. If you don’t know how to do this, learn together. There are plenty of YouTube videos you can watch with your kids.
• Spring clean with your kids. Help them sort through their clothes and toys and give away what they don’t need.
• Garden! Clean up the remnants of the winter and get ready for spring.
• Go for a bike ride!

And let us not forget the power of prayer. It gives us the inner strength to deal with things that are beyond our control.