COVID: 19 Lessons

By Cary Bayer

The isolation that Nature has forced with its deadly Covid-19 virus, that governments around the world have wisely implemented, as well, has clearly restricted our physical movement, but it has also provided us with a wide range of lessons that we can learn. Because it’s a novel virus, we need novel changes in how we adapt to it. Instead of focusing on the restrictive changes it has caused in us, I invite you to focus on the positive changes it can inspire in us to help us become bigger and better people.

Here are 19 such lessons from this Coronavirus:
Meditate: If you can’t go outside, why don’t you go inside? Put another way, if you have to stay inside, why not stay inside to the deepest part of yourself. To your Self itself. It’s situated at the transcendental level of your being; it is, in fact, your very Being itself.
Create: Here’s your chance to write that novel you’ve always wanted to write but never had the time to do so. Now there’s one thing you most definitely have: TIME. Or perhaps draw, or paint. Or perhaps redecorate the furniture.
Connect: If you can’t see your friends and loved ones in person, connect with them on Zoom, Skype or Facetime.
Love: If you hate being cooped up, don’t let the desire to express love to the people you care about also be cooped up inside of you, unexpressed. Let out these feelings to these people.
Learn: There are myriad things you can learn on You Tube. Just go on the Internet and discover.
Read: Take a look at all those books you bought on Amazon or yard sales. As Maharishi, my guru, used to say, “Knowledge in books tends to stay in books.” See what awaits you inside their pages.
Music: What applies to books, applies to CDs. Why not give yourself an indoor concert of your favorite music?
Cook: Why not go into the kitchen and become the top chef in your home?
Become More Intimate: If your intimacy level with your significant other has fallen to the back burner, why not move it up to the front burner which is quite hot?
Laugh: Here’s a revision of a well-known axiom: When the going gets tough, the tough get laughing. Check out Comedy Central, HBO’s comedy channel, funny films, stand-up acts, written humorists, etc.
Sleep: Most people have sleep debts built up over the years. Now is the time to heal that debt; don’t set any alarms, and let your body sleep until you wake up.
Exercise: Some people have been so busy that they haven’t had the time to exercise or play sports. While, sports are not possible during isolation, walking, jogging, or rollerblading are certainly available to you.
Respect Nature: It’s my contention that this worldwide outbreak of Coronavirus has come as a response to our abuse of Nature. Our killing off of species, our pollution of air and water, and so forth. So come to respect the power of Nature. In prehistoric times, mankind was in awe of the power of the sun, the moon, the tides, and so forth.
Enjoy Nature: If you have access to parks, beaches, or hiking trails and they are open for use, enjoy their beauty in a socially distant manner.
Pray: Let your heart speak openly to the Higher Power.
Affirm & Visualize: Now that you have the time, let your mind become empowered through the use of verbal affirmations. Also visualize yourself happy and successful in different areas of your life.
Purpose: If you’re not clear why you’re here, here’s the opportunity to discover who you are and why you’re here in this world.
Do What You Love: If there are things you’ve long wanted to do, now is the time to do them—in the comfort of your own home.
Surprise Yourself: Why not surprise yo