“At this point, it’s said and done. We know what to expect and I can look at it with a little bit of gratitude. This happened for a reason. I now get the chance to rest, recover and let my body heal up, so I can get ready to get back on and grind whenever I’m allowed to start practicing again.”—Bo Nickal (Penn State Wrestler)
What are you supposed to get out of this quarantine? What opportunities are before your in this moment? I love the sentiment expressed by Bo Nickal in response to the cancellation on the NCAA Tournaments. This is grattitude.
Sure this is tough. Some of us have it better than others. (I certainly can’t complain that I have to teach remotely when it means no commute, and I am collecting a paycheck when others are not.) Some will not survive the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. People will experience great loss. In the end—and it will end—we choose what we will benefit from this. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”, according to Friedrich Nietzsche. That is, that which does not kill us should make us stronger. It is a matter of choice. It is a matter of grattitude. It is a matter of seeing the opportunity inherent in our circumstances and seizing the moment.
Opportunity generates a fight-or-flight response—or, better, a choice to fight (to confront and embrace our circumstance) or to run (to choose fear). Fear, doubt, worry, and (ir)rationalizing are enemies of success (of faith—Matthew 8:26, 14:31 6:30, 16:8). They are also our personal choice.
Embrace the opportunities to grow.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!