Is this it?!

And what is the cost of “free”?

Energy can be neither created or destroyed – the 1st law of thermodynamics – how does this apply to today and free stimulus packages?

Many of my peers are running around excited today at the “free” money the US government approved today for businesses and others.

As I read through the documents of what/how/etc – I wonder “why”?

Why is this stimulus here?

What is the motivation of career politicians to pass this?

What is in it for them?

Do our politicians have any skin in this game?

Where does this “free” money come from?

I don’t know the answers to these questions, and I think about to ancient wisdoms and principles when a culture is rapidly changing or experience heighten emotions.

As communities go to isolation, i notice colleagues, friends and community members expressing,

“I’m lonely”

Our technology does not cure it. Perhaps it is a symptom.

Some ideas I am exploring:

1) More walks in nature and being in presence.

2) FaceTime

3) Noticing more that I didn’t. Birds, sounds, spring popping up.

4) Slowing down and enjoying the moment instead of past or present dreams

5) Zoom calls with colleagues. We are bringing children and pets to meetings.

6) Listening, Listening, Listening. Asking folks to share how they feel. When asked, I will share that too.

7) This Drift Worksheet is helpful for me (from CLG)

Sending love and connection to you. I am open to more.

As the world, our communities, and enterprises navigate the rapid change in the world, I am seeing myself and others stuck in a story…

The story of the past – what things “used to be like”.

Feeling loss over what things, money, life was like even 1 week ago.

I am imagining my life, my family, community and the world is like a car that has:

Front Window
Side Window
Rear Window

The rear window is the past, what things used to be like. It was beautiful at the time, and now it is gone.

Side windows is where I/family/community is today. The present.

Front Window, is the immediate future that we can see right now.

I am doing my best to see the facts/beauty of today and am looking at the immediate future that is materially different from the rear window and attempting to accept/embrace it now.

What beauty will be here that perhaps I missed in my previous view from even a day or 1 week ago?

My old Aussie Friend, used to use this term…”Panic Merchant”. Defined as a person who buys and sells panic in the marketplace with other humans.

You might know a panic merchant (I can be one at times no doubt). They get enraptured by the newest thing/cause/crisis/celebration, or whatever the social universe is positing about and quickly buys/sells the story without looking deeper.

Often times a panic merchant will both buy and sell panic at the same time with their communication. Hence, being a merchant.

I try my best to not believe everything I hear, read and observe in our media driven culture. I also try not to be a panic merchant by remaining in presence and staying aware of my amygdala’s power.

Caution, Yes! Panic and spreading it, no thank-you.

I used to do a lot of camping in a tent, in remote places, that were cold at night.

I recall, my feet and feeling the coldest at the very early part of the morning before the sun peaked out over the mountain. Sometimes, seconds felt like minutes. When will the sky start to get lighter so I can get warmer?

I wonder if we are at a moment just before dawn culturally and as a species, or if we are not even close to dawn – maybe midnight has not come yet? Uncertainty creates stress AND opportunity.

I’m looking towards opportunity and connection.