A Letter to Our Children on COVID-19

To My Child,

I wish I could tell you this pandemic will be over soon and life will return to some sense of normalcy. I wish I could tell you that you could play freely with your friends and learn in person from your favorite teachers. I wish I could tell you that working on the frontlines during this crisis would not jeopardize my health.

I wish I could tell you that your educational experience would not be compromised since shifting online. I wish I could tell you that there would be enough food to eat, the bills would be paid and we would not be evicted.

I wish I could tell you that this epidemic would not take a toll on our mental health and emotional well-being. I wish I could tell you that friends and members of our family would not be affected by this disease.

I wish I could be there to meet my recently-born grandchild. I wish I could watch you compete with your teammates. I wish I could tell you that I would not be furloughed or lose my job.

I wish I could see you off to prom and witness you walk across that commencement stage. I wish I could always protect you and keep you out of harm’s way. I wish I could tell you with certainty I will not die from COVID-19.

Not being able to tell you this and ensure these things makes me restless. It creates a level of dis-ease in my spirit. But in traveling the terrains and highways of life and experiencing moments of anguish, confusion, and loss I have come to understand the following:

Although we are navigating uncharted waters, there is still beauty, calmness, and wisdom immersed within the tide. It is our responsibility to discover and share it. Whatever we give our attention to grows. We can choose light and positivity or darkness and fear. The choice is always in our control.

Amid these challenges and obstacles, we must remind ourselves that this too shall pass. There is an abundance of grace, resiliency, and courage that lies in the hearts and minds of humanity when we approach solutions from WE, not ME.

So on this new day and at this moment here is what I can tell you:

Life Doesn’t Happen To You, It Happens For You

Finding strength and gratitude in the middle of our struggles, defeats, trials, and tribulations becomes a transformative moment for self-examination. These experiences awaken and propel us to new levels of inner power and possibilities. There are always unseen forces ready to support us in our darkest hours.

You Don’t Need A Title To Be A Leader

The core of leadership is self-leadership. All great leadership finds its origin in self-leadership. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader and a positive difference-maker.

Vulnerability Makes You Courageous, Not Weak

You were born to be real, not to be perfect. Life is not about perfection. It is about progression. Your life, voice, and story have a purpose. It is okay not to have it all figured out.

There’s Power In Kindness

It costs us absolutely nothing to be kind. Mark Twain once said, “Kindness is the virtue that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Every day, we are presented with an opportunity to be beacons of peace, love, positivity, courage, and perseverance — in the process, transmitting the energy of kindness as we navigate our digital and physical worlds.

Health Is Wealth

While our society glorifies fame, fortune, and status, those, too, have an expiration date. Pure bliss is the exploration of inner peace, tranquillity within the midst of chaos and wholeheartedly living in truth from a place of love, integrity, and authenticity. True wealth starts with our holistic health and wellness, not on a financial spreadsheet.

Life is a precious gift that we must unwrap with care and respect. We are undoubtedly living in times that none of us have ever experienced. Author Eckhart Tolle once wrote, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” Today is another chance to focus intently on cultivating your life instead of reacting to it. May you allow your humility, curiosity, love, creativity, and an open mind to guide the way during these challenging times.

While I wish I could tell you everything, I can tell you these truths: Diamonds are crystallized under pressure. You are seen. You are appreciated. You are loved. You are valued. You are enough. Life is a marathon. In time, you will emerge from this storm different from the person who first encountered it. Recognize that these moments of enlightenment, self-discovery, and transformation — no matter the days, weeks, months and years it takes — become the beauty of life.

P.S. If you are in search of a book recommendation, our team at The Daily Coach highly recommends The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown. A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living. Brown bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an “imperfect” life and embracing living authentically.

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