Over the past few months, I’ve gotten into the routine of listening to podcasts while I’m working. I’m always on the look out for new, interesting podcasts to listen to, so I’ve found myself searching for topics and just randomly listening to some in the hopes that they will catch my interest. One of the ones I’ve recently come across has been quite entertaining. It is called Haunted AF.
Hosts Julie Fisk and Rebekah Black present real ghost stories as shared with them by their listeners. For anyone who likes a good spooky story, this is a fun podcast to check out.
While listening to the stories this morning, it had the effect of jogging my memory about a few experiences that I’ve had over the years. One in particular came to mind that I thought I would share.
It’s finally happened. After four months of physical distancing, mask wearing, hand washing, staying home and staying safe, I finally reached my breaking point.
I wanted to take a moment to add my name to the litany of folks who are thanking you for your efforts and positivity throughout this pandemic known as COVID-19.
Though I am known to be an emotional man, it takes something special to reduce me to a blubbering 41-year old mess once a week; and that’s precisely what you do. With every single episode of Some Good News, you have not only brought tears to my eyes, but you have brought out the full-blown waterworks. (I should specify that they are tears of joy and happiness, not of anguish and despair!)
Despite all of the panic, fear and hardship that is going on globally, you take your time and energy to highlight stories of pure love, joy and positivity. You are a true Light Worker, spreading Light and love across a global platform. And do not think that this is not without worth. I, like so many others, feed off of this love and goodness in humankind. It is sometimes difficult to have faith in humanity when you see what is going on in the world, but your weekly broadcast renews that faith in me deeply. To see so many people giving of themselves, of their time, their services, their money, their love… it fills my heart to overflowing.
So thank you, John, for your part in spreading Some Good News around the globe and being part of the Light Brigade. I truly cannot express how important what you are doing is to so many people. I look forward to seeing you grace my screen again in the near future.
Yours most sincerely,
Chris
PS. You may not have heard this song yet, but it’s by a Canadian hip-hop artist from here in the Maritimes. His name is Classified and he released a new song recently called “Good News“. That’s the link to the YouTube lyric video. I think you’d enjoy it.
For any of my readers, if you have not heard of John Krasinski’s YouTube series, Some Good News, I urge you to click on the link and check out the videos. You will be hard-pressed to find more joy-filled moments than he has brought together. Spread the love.
If you follow my social media accounts, or have been reading my blog, then you know that I like to keep things on the positive side. I try to remain upbeat and to spread Light into the universe. That is my reason for being.
Today, I wanted to be wholly transparent on how this pandemic has been affecting me, because life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.
For those who know me, or who have been following any of my social media posts, you know that I’m generally one to favour positivity. Even in these troubled times, I choose to put my attention and energy on optimism, positivity, gratitude and humour.
While some people may look at me and see a naive, fool-hearty fellow who thinks that meditating, thinking happy thoughts and writing gratitude lists will cure the world, know that I am not a blathering idiot. I do realize the severity and challenge that our entire planet is facing with COVID-19. The difference is that I choose not to feed the fear and panic; I choose to feed love and positivity.
Today is March 3rd – a day of great significance and meaning in my life. Rather than write yet another blog post about my Second Life Day anniversary today, I thought I would take a different approach this year. Time to look at a few realizations that I have had recently.
As we turn the page on the calendar and usher in a new decade, I thought it would be the opportune time to plan out what I want to do in 2020. While I’m not a believer in setting “resolutions” in the traditional sense, I do still like to set goals for myself. I’d much rather approach these as goals than resolutions, but I don’t want to get into a contextual discussion about the use of goal vs resolution.
As a compromise, here are 7 things I will do in 2020:
I think it is fair to say that 2019 was a year of change. Not only 2019, but the latter part of this decade has brought on change. Our world has faced a myriad of changes in so many different forms. We have had major catalysts such as Donald Trump who have accelerated change. Like him or loathe him, we cannot argue that he has not been a trigger for change in the world. It remains to be seen where the changes he has activated will bring us, but I remain on the hopeful side of the discussion.
We’ve seen perceptual changes this past year as well. One of the biggest forces behind one of these shifts was Greta Thunberg. This 16-year old climate activist has mobilized a massive amount of people around the globe. While there is still much work to do here, the fact that so many millions upon millions of people have started to shift their focus to this new mindset is both amazing and encouraging.
Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’.
Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’
On a personal front, this year has seen some change as well. I’ve had a change of job, I’ve had changes in my own mindset and perceptions about myself and the world around me. I continue to grow and evolve as a person and do feel that I’m ending this year, and this decade, as a better version of myself than I began as.
Tout change…everything changes. That is the one absolute in life.
I started the year with a post about change. I thought it fitting to end on a post about change.
It doesn’t take a lot to make a change. You can change your habits, you can change your career path, you can change your opinion, you can change anything. I feel that one of the most challenging changes is that of perception and attitude. Remember that you don’t have to make huge changes to have an impact on yourself of those around you. Every thought you have, every action you take, is like a drop of water hitting a pool. Each drop causes tiny little ripples to shoot out in every direction around you. These ripples can turn into waves. The more ripples you make, the further it will spread around you.
It is important to be mindful of what you are putting out into the world. When those waves hit the edge of the water, it causes a rebound to come back towards you. What you put out, you get in return. If you focus your energy on negativity, on pain, on suffering, you will attract that same energy back onto you. Take the challenge to try to change your thoughts; even if it’s just for one minute each day. I dare you to try.
Walking across the street outside the office today, I nearly slipped on the wet pavement. In reality, I did a Scooby-Doo kind of footfall, but managed to stay standing, if slightly embarrassed.
If you were able to heal yourself, would you do it? What if that meant you had to believe in yourself and love yourself, unconditionally? Are you still game? Or does the spectre of doubt start to creep back into your mind?
