My wife and I had the incredible pleasure of traveling to the West Coast last week.  But during our trip, the coronavirus pandemic and corresponding hysteria swept the nation and the world.  Each day, the news got exponentially worse as destinations and destinies were forever altered “out of an abundance of caution”.

As the cancellations and precautions mounted, we decided that a happy hour would be a perfect antidote to take our minds off the new reality.  Schooner’s Coastal Kitchen, a beautiful spot on the water in Monterey, CA, provided the perfect oasis.  We secured a table outside on the end of the deck, to bask in the sunshine and discuss our rapidly-changing plans.

As the sun began to set behind the restaurant, the shadows grew longer on the deck.  That’s when I saw him.  Francis.  The mascot of the restaurant.  A gargantuan seagull who takes his sunbathing seriously.  Every day, as the sun sets, Francis moves out of the shadows and into the rapidly shrinking sunshine with each passing minute.

Since we were seated at the end of the deck, our table was the last one to enjoy the direct sunshine.  True to form, Francis eventually moved over and perched right next to us.  When the sun finally set on our table, he moved to the highest point on the railing of the restaurant to squeeze out another few minutes of golden glory.  Then, as the inevitable shadows overtook him, he raised his head one more time to soak in the very last ray of sunshine on the deck.

Francis the Seagull has the right idea.  He knows enough to move out of the shadows and maximize the sunshine in his life.  And in these trying times, couldn’t we all channel our inner Francis and focus on the sunshine?

Move Toward the end of the Deck

The coronavirus outbreak should not be taken lightly.  We need to be cautious and it is okay to be anxious.  People have died.  People are sick.  Lives have been altered.  Plans have been jettisoned.  Seasons have ended and dreams have been dashed.  And the confusion and uncertainty exponentially increase with each new announcement and closure.  Working from home, “e-learning”, and “elbow taps” will be a new reality for the foreseeable future. The shadows are long right now and sunshine seems in short supply. But that doesn’t mean we have to panic.  We can’t let the darkness overwhelm us!  We have to raise our heads and find the light.  There is still plenty of sunshine at the end of the deck.   We just have to keep moving towards it.

The Upside of a Crisis

This crisis provides unique opportunities for us to re-examine our lives.  Children are home from school.  Activities are canceled.  Outside distractions will never again be this minimal.  Let’s use this as an opportunity to re-connect and truly understand what is going on in each other’s lives.  We might be surprised by how mature and independent our children have become.  And they might be surprised by how much we care.  We can’t be afraid to express our love and pride.  Now is the time.  It’s all about perspective.  Find that sunshine.

And what about the things we took for granted?  Going to parties.  Going to the gym.  Playing (and watching!) sports with our closest friends.  Seeing the teachers who changed our outlook on life.  Shaking hands.  Buying toilet paper (not necessarily in that order).  The little things that we thought would always be there have been taken away from us.  Doesn’t that make us hungrier for “the way things used to be”?  Doesn’t that make us even more committed to bringing those times back? And isn’t that the ultimate expression of appreciation?

Before this outbreak, we may have been bored with our same old routine.  Perhaps we were tired of seeing the same people. Perhaps commuting into the office was overwhelming.  Perhaps school was a chore.  Perhaps practice was a grind.  Perhaps exercise was an ordeal.  Perhaps our children/parents drove us crazy.  Perhaps going to the grocery store seemed dull and pointless.  Now, we see how good we had it.  Now we would welcome a return to “normalcy”.  Now we will have so much more appreciation for the little things when we get through this crisis.  And who would have guessed that two weeks ago?

Resiliency is all about perspective and appreciation.  Unsettling times are easier to deal with when we put things in perspective.  We have survived World Wars, massive outbreaks, September 11th, and other life-changing events.   Each time, we came back stronger than ever.  And so it will be this time.  It is that appreciation that will get us through.  Who are the most important people in our lives?  What brings us the most joy?  What are the little things we most desperately miss?  That appreciation for what is and what was will sustain and fortify us in these trying times.   Appreciation and perspective will drive our resilience.  And that will provide all the sunshine we need to get through these difficult times.

There is an Abundance of Sunshine

We have to change our mindset.  We can’t view this as something that is wrapping us in endless darkness.  We need to think of this coronavirus crisis as a “reverse sunset”.  The shadows will never be longer than they are right now.  Just as Francis the Seagull lifted his head to catch the last remaining rays of the sun, so too must we fight to find hope and joy in this uncertainty and chaos.  But the sun is going in the opposite direction.  The shadows are retreating and the sunshine is growing on the deck.  Each day, we will adjust and come to terms with our new reality.  Each day we will appreciate all that we have and take advantage of this unique moment in time.  Each day we will gain a healthier perspective on our situation.  In the darkest of times, we will take care of each other.  We will stay resilient.  We will get through.  We always do.

Thank you, Francis, for showing us the way. We need to move out of the shadows.  We need to soak in those last rays of sunshine.  Everything is cool.  And we are in for another glorious sunset tomorrow.