Heroes do the unexpected, or in some cases, they do the expected, but they do it when others turn away.

 

We are supposed to take care of ourselves, yet it can be too easy to get wrapped up in fighting the turmoil. Some of my recent heroes are the people who, despite bad news, trauma, or fear, launch themselves into activities that buoy their spirits. They achieve a balance. They acknowledge their situation and have plans to improve it. They also respect themselves and take time to treat themselves. They work on surviving and living.

 

I was at a dance last night (yes, we have Tuesday dances on our island - email for details) and a friend showed up who had medical, financial, and lifestyle challenges. She had enough challenges to keep anyone wrapped up in planning, acting, and worrying about and for the future. And she was there to dance; not to avoid them, but as a necessary respite. (I'll give her dad credit for getting her out the door.) When I asked how she was, she rolled her eyes, at which point I just asked, "Or should we just dance?" and she smiled. And we danced.

 

 

I've pulled together a menu for my down days. Each item has a different flavor and nutritional content.

Dance for when I want to be with people and play and move and smile.

Movies for when I want to sit still, do nothing, and be entertained.

Parties for when I want to immerse myself in friends.

Computer games for when I want to sit inside, on my own, and block out the world.

Telemark skiing for when I want to play outside and let the brain focus on one thing, this turn.

Karate for when I want to engage and balance mind, body and spirit with a big dose of humility.

The list goes on . . .

 

We are in troubled times. There are better times coming, but many of them require patience. Many of them require work. But we have to pace ourselves. We are in a marathon that we will finish, but we can't sprint the entire way.

 

I applaud my friends who have taken time to enjoy the positive aspects of the world as it is now. I've heard reports from the dance floor, the beach, the slopes, the theaters, and from inside books. And then they all got back to work.

 

In a switch on my book title, we will get to our dreams, but we have to remember to live along the way. And if we do it well enough, we'll survive and thrive, and so will the country, the culture, and the planet. Imagine the party we will have then.