That is the number of Covid deaths in the U.S. reported on February 22, 2021. A half a million people. I wonder how many days, weeks, months and years of life were lost. I wonder about the physical, psychological and spiritual toll so many deaths have placed on healthcare workers and families. People who are seeing so much death, like nursing home and funeral home workers. A half a million people are gone and more will die before we are able to stop the spread of this disease. Are we so hardened that this astronomical number is meaningless? It gets no more than a shrug and a sigh?

Take a deep breath. Bring your mind to ease. Come into this very moment now. Take another deep breath. No matter what is happening, can you pause in this moment and feel the sacredness of life? Of all life? Can you feel the tremendous heartache and loss? Will you allow it to bring you closer to love and kindness…for yourself and for all of humanity?

People have said to me…we’ll all be changed by this experience. I’m not so sure. I will be changed if I decide to be changed. The same goes for you. The best and lasting change comes from practicing loving-kindness. The practice of gently engaging in life from the Soul. To me, this means to engage in life from humility, understanding, love, respect, strength and steadfastness. Engaging in life from the Soul begs the question…what is my responsibility to myself and to humanity? How can I help?

With much love
Paula