Living (and parenting) in a Coronavirus World
I came home the other night and my son was crying. He said he’s scared of getting the coronavirus.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy is the best parenting book I’ve ever read.
If you’re not familiar with the book, a father and his young son are nomads traversing through a post apocalyptic-world. They are starving, freezing, and being hunted by cannibals. It’s like when the power goes out in suburbia for two hours. It’s terrifying.
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Okay, The Road is not a parenting book at all. It’s a fine work of hardboiled prose that has been hailed, by many publications, as one of the most important novels of the 21st century.
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Like I’m constantly reminding my kids to turn off the bathroom light, the father (that’s his name in the novel. I did read it. I swear.) is constantly reminding his son that no matter what horror they encounter on the road, they must continue to carry “the fire”.
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Which is a symbolic way of saying, “No matter what happens–always live your life with love in your heart.”
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Let’s agree that our world is a scary place.
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There’s a novel disease spreading, a shortage of hand sanitizer, and people are fist fighting over toilet paper.
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Look, no one knows when a cure will be found or when the disease will peter out. But I do know we humans do a tremendous job of catastrophizing everything.
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And when we catashtrpohize we lose our bearings. We make rash decisions. Our hearts harden and we replace our compassion with fear and selfishness.
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When the parents in the room adopt, an “every person for themselves” attitude of course the kids are going to cry. It’s our selfishness that makes the world a terrifying place for kids.
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In our coronavirus world, I implore parents to always carry the fire. These dark, fearful days are just testing the batteries our your heart. Because it’s in the dark and fearful days when it takes the most courage to love.
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So years from now, when your kids become parents, they may do as you did in times of great uncertainty.
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Be well,
Jay
Last week, my story “The Day I Learned I Could No Longer Jump” was published by the California literary journal The Coachella Review. I’m really proud of this piece. It was the first time I really tried to show both the physical and emotional stresses of cerebellar degeneration. I encourage you to give it a read and share it!
Are you burdened by negative feelings? Are negative feelings preventing you from achieving your goals? Your potential? A happier life?My 2020 resolution is to learn more about and practice more forgiveness. There is growing research that forgiveness is the key to a happier and healthier life. Check out my Forgiveness Journey and share with someone you think may be interested.
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