30-day Dis! challenge

'DIS!' amidst COVID-19

1. Appreciate

At the end of 2019 I read an article about Hugh van Cuylenburg (founder of The Resilience Project) and a trip he reluctantly made to India.

This article and our nation-wide COVID-19 lockdown, which started today, inspired me to do my next 30-day challenge - 'Dis!' amidst COVID-19.

For the sake of context, you may want to read Hugh's article to understand 'Dis!' and watch the TED talk that inspired me to do 30-day challenges.

Today, my Dis! moment was appreciating the beauty and simplicity of nature in a quiet, peaceful garden, which I normally do not appreciate enough amidst the rush called 'life'.

Thank you, COVID, for forcing us to slow down and appreciate every breath we take! Thank you for forcing us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and simplicity of nature at our doorstep.

'Dis!'

2. Bubble of Care ... real and virtual

This morning I did not wake up alone and I did not go through the day alone. I woke up next to a caring, loving husband and I went through the day with enough technology surrounding me to enable blissful moments of virtual connection with children, extended family, friends, team members, and clients.

I am in isolation, but I feel blessed in my bubble of care – actual and virtual.

‘Dis!’

3. COVID

C – compassion
When last have I felt so much compassion, especially from my friends and clients in China who have already progressed so much further on this journey? ‘
Dis’!

O – online
What a privilege to have an uncapped, high-speed internet connection to stay connected to the world and to continue with our business.
‘Dis!’

V – vaccine
It's not often that we see such collaboration amongst the world’s greatest minds to end this pandemic asap.
‘Dis!’

I – immunity
I have a strong immune system. I suddenly value this more than ever before.
‘Dis!’

D – decisions
We live in a country where decisions are made for the benefit of all, where support is delivered to the disadvantaged, and where uncertainty is demystified by factual reporting.
‘Dis!’

4. Dedication

I dedicate this post to those front-line workers who make the world go round – not just during these challenging times, but always!

We just value them more during times like these because we are more aware of how crucial they are to ensure we can live our day-to-day lives. But they are always there – they always care; they always go about their daily tasks with dedication.

‘Dis!’

5. Entrepreneurial spirit

By nature I am resilient and I have an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the past few days I realised how lucky I am to have these traits and what responsibility we have to support those who easily get discouraged by challenging circumstances.

‘Dis!’

6. Feelings . . .

… of fear … of faith … of despair ... of hope ...

… they come and they go – the good ones and the bad ones; the happy ones and the sad ones … but I have family and friends to share my feelings with.

I have family and friends who support and love me for who I am – whether I feel fear of faith.

‘Dis!’

7. Grief

I learned about anticipatory grief (https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief) and how to manage it. Thank you HBR! We live in a world where we have 24/7 access to the best of information on any topic we can dream of.

‘Dis!’

Source: Rob Southey Photography

8. Happiness

What makes me happy has changed over the past week.

Things that made me happy this week were a cupboard filled with healthy food, a friendly smile from a neighbour pottering in his garden, a healthy body, a quiet garden … the list goes on.

It has been quite a while since I have thought so much about the importance of health or felt so happy about the fact that my family and I are safe and healthy.

‘Dis!’

9. Insignificant

What might have been insignificant once has now become our everything!

I have five senses to experience even the smallest of wonders ... like grains of sand on a beach.

'Dis!'

10. Jobs

Never before have I been so grateful for having one.

'Dis!I

11. Kindheartedness

An abundance of kindheartedness
helps us deal with the pain of this virus.

I am grateful for having so many people in my life who continue to show kindheartedness when times are as tough as these.

'Dis!'

12. Loss and Love

For some this is a time of loss.
For some this is a time of loneliness.
For some this is a time of limitation.
For some this is a time of leadership.

For me this is a time to love.

'Dis!'

13. Microscopic

When I think about the word microscopic, it makes me think of something so small it has little meaning; something so small it has little power; something so small it can be ignored; something so small it's hard to measure.

I have never considered something microscopic to have such magnitude - to be measured not in nanometers but in the loss of lives and the loss of livelihoods.

I am grateful to have a meaningful life; I am grateful for every microsecond I have on this earth.

'Dis!'

Source: Rob Southey Photography

14. Normal

What was normal last year?
What is normal now?
What will normal be next month ... next year ... next ...?

I don't know ... but I have the time now to reflect on it and to plan for what I want it to be.

'Dis!'

15. Objectivity

Some may feel overwhelmed.
Some may be obsessive or offensive.
Some may lose all objectivity .
Some may view the situation open-mindedly.

... I'm optimistic because even in these circumstances there are opportunities!

'Dis!'

16. Peace

Today was Easter Friday.

Today I experienced peace ... and so did my mum at the other end of the world in her garden.

Thanks for showing me how to find peace through leading by example, mum!

'Dis!'

17. Q

Do you sometimes question how we quantify the quality of life?
Do you sometimes wish our quarrels could quickly be quashed?
Do you sometimes quake with fear?
Do you sometimes quench your thirst for hope, and meaning, and peace by just being quiet?

... I do too!

'Dis!'