What to do next?

Most people alive on earth today have never been through this kind of thing before.  

To have such a world-wide, disruptive, dangerous virus among us - it's an eye-opening and uncertain time.  Some days I think though that we have always had viruses around us, this one is just more visible than the ones we have been living with for longer- pervasive in society.  

Nevertheless, here we are.

Confronted with many difficult things, but also feeling (at least for me) that the happy and joyful realities are that much sweeter and more important.  It's really about survival in a way that it hasn't been so far in my life, at least.  It's a challenge and an opportunity.  

Things are coming into focus in new ways for me now.  Things that mattered before, matter more now.  Things that were on the edges have fallen off.  Some things, places and people are dearly missed.  But this time has also become a great reminder for me.  

For the last few years I have had some good conversations with a new and important friend in my life.  During one of those conversations we were chatting about uncertainty and what to do when you don't know what to do!  As I'm moving through this time, there are many moments where I'm not sure what to do next and am reminded of our conversation.

I decided back then that when I'm not sure of what to do next, all I need to focus on is doing the next, kind thing.  Just the thing that's directly in front of me, and approaching the person or situation with kindness.  Deal with whatever it is in that way and move forward.  In this way, life, for the most part, has become a string of kindnesses.  In choices, in actions, in words - all just one small, kind choice after the other.  

Most days, this way of living has been an easy habit - but some days challenge that, for sure.  During this time there have been moments that ask me to stop, evaluate and make a deliberate, kind choice.  

So far, every time I've been able to do that, the results have been positive.  And each time they are I am encouraged and feel affirmed that this is indeed the way to move forward. 

With so much on our hearts and minds now, sometimes the next, tiny step is the only one we can approach.  Now more than ever I am going to remind myself that when I don't know what to do next, I'll just choose the next, small, kind thing and do that.

That's the best I can do.  It's the best any of us can do.