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     There’s a piece circulating around the Internet you may have seen about quarantine. The premise is that while we are in the same storm, we are not in the same boat.  Quarantine and social isolation look very different for each of us, even though we are in the same overall situation. As I read the piece (posted at the end for you), it reminds me that not only are we in different boats from each other but sometimes we switch boats from day to day.  Some days I feel like I’m embracing this family time and enjoying the slower pace. Other days I feel like the pace is crazier than ever as I try to navigate school for my kids while juggling my own work, meal planning, laundry, and the normal day to day interactions. But I like the take home message that wherever you are today or tomorrow or even three hours from now, be kind. Be kind to yourself, to your neighbors, to the people around you.  As restrictions begin to ease and Texas and other states begin to reopen, people have very different feelings about what that looks like or what it means. Be kind.  Be kind to the person at HEB who is a frontline worker and likely functioning on limited sleep and high stress.  Be kind to the relative who may have very different ideas of what social distancing or mask wearing means. Be kind to the neighbor down the street whose child unexpectedly runs toward yours to play. Be kind to your children who would rather play than do their schoolwork.  Be kind to yourself on the days it feels really hard to get out of bed and get going.  Be kind to your spouse who is in the foxhole with you and may or may not be responding the way you think he or she should.  Be kind to the stranger you see who feels differently about mask wearing than you do. Kindness costs nothing and goes a long way to spread peace and joy.  When we emerge on the other side of this, things will look different.  Our schools, workplaces, and recreational activities may look very different for awhile.  Let’s preserve what we can by fostering our relationships through kindness. Many of us are tired and worn out by this process.  Many are concerned about what the next several weeks, months, or even years may look like.  But it costs nothing to be kind and goes a long way to help fill someone up, someone who might be running on empty.

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WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...
I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

Realize that and be kind.

Unknown author