Forging Ahead, Foraging Behind....the Pandemic: A Call for COVID Contrasts

       Who among us have not had to put a goal or two on pause, re-evaluate it, or perhaps abandon it altogether, due largely to the pandemic circumstances we continue to find ourselves in? As I indicated in a previous post ("Feeling Blue?"-June 14th), if you had not already experienced a degree of sadness due to a loss of contact, opportunity, or income, you were the exception. If you are even an occasional reader here you are also aware that I frequently utilize this space as a call for action--literally. Herein is a renewed call for two types of action that, at first glance, appear to be at odds, but are actually in harmony. That is, we need to redouble our efforts and forge (or 'surge' in the midst of a second COVID surge) ahead to realize our goals, while also taking intermittent 'time outs' on the way (e.g., foraging), in order to sustain our own 'viral vigor' as well as those close to us. 

Lead, Follow, or..."get the hell out of my way" Attributed to some notable leaders, including General George S. Patton, who was a historian of military leaders and given to allegorical statements in motivating his troops, frequently in treacherous terrain. This was also used as in a 1992 advertisement by Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, during the time he and his team were attempting to relaunch Chrysler after it had fallen on hard times, due in part to stiff foreign competition (see the links here to both the past and present?). A related quote regarding leadership and goal attainment, from an earlier time in our history, is attributed to Thomas Jefferson: "Nothing can stop the [person] with the right mental attitude from achieving [his/her] goal; nothing on earth can help the [person] with the wrong mental attitude" which, interestingly enough, was featured as the last step/reminder in a workout program designed for those who no longer have access to their gyms due to the pandemic. Then, of course, there's always, ALWAYS the law of Nike, which for me is an ever present reminder that one of the shortest words in our language is also one that covers a lot of ground when it comes to setting, resetting, and eventually realizing our goals, in any given circumstances: we have got to DO it, and DO it again and again, until finally...(including, for example, researching a vaccine).

Practice makes...John Wooden was a celebrated college basketball coach at UCLA, almost matchless in his accomplishments (which he humbly attributed to many, a character trait lacking in many of our leaders these days, as I have referenced before here). Among many lessons in the game of basketball as well as the larger game of life, one of my favorites was his view on practice--he prized practice over games as his favorite time of the week, as it was in the practice sessions that he had the most control. By game time, there were many elements and factors (including possible injuries and bad calls by the officials before the advent of instant replay) that he had minimal control of. But no team was going to exceed them in preparation or discipline (one of the first things he taught all players was how to put on their shoes and socks, admittedly at the high end of the 'control freak' scale, but many players looked back with appreciation on such basics). A 'COVID corollary' can be found in the frequent reminders of our pandemic circumstances, that there are many things we don't have control of, but this is no excuse for not pushing forward towards our goal(s) that we can still achieve. Collectively, the foregoing add up to a prayer known to most of us (whether by name or resonance): SERENITY!

It's like a walk in the park...sounds good, I need something effortless, something easy to accomplish if I have to keep forging forward. As a recent Stanford University demonstrated, participants who went walking were 81% more creative than those who were sitting. Further, walking outside (compared to walking inside on a treadmill) proved to be most effective in producing novel and creative ideas. Thus, it's not just action but also scenery...                                                                                                              In need of a slow down, due to a fast pace (or otherwise stressful) family life? "Then go to the forest; it's not so far away" as the commercial goes. It may be as close as the nearest park, albeit not as dense as the state or national versions. Better yet, if you don't want to venture that far, as many articles in popular magazines such as Reader's Digest and Outside have detailed, foraging for wildflowers and even food can be found as close as your own  backyard! I am reminded of a recipe calling for dandelions when I was earning a merit badge as a Boy Scout, and had enough to know I would not make this a staple in my diet--for those of you who would consider it, my neighbor's lawn is a dandelion fest in the spring, with some leftovers this fall if you really want to 'go green'.                                                                                Heading back indoors...for those of us in these northern climates, where foraging becomes complicated by iced over turf, there's always...RUMMAGING! As in rummaging through your old stuff, whether a closet you haven't opened in a dog's age, or old recipes you haven't tried in a year or so. Some things will go in recycling, others repurposed (Pinterest), and still others with which you become reacquainted (kind of like old friends in the not too distant future, we hope!). So a limitless supply in and out of doors to take time out with yourself and your family, to reconnect, recharge before once again returning to forging ahead.