The Paradox of Covid: A Journey Through Struggle and Strength

COVID has turned everyone’s lives on their heads. Whether you are having difficulties adjusting to hybrid work, suffering the loss of a loved one, or finding yourself in uncharted waters – we can all point to the challenges brought by COVID. And yet… there’s been beauty too. Perhaps that’s the nature of life. With every harsh winter comes gorgeous snowfalls. With every forest fire comes new growth. In these next few paragraphs, I submit to you the paradox of COVID: how in our collective strife there has also been a collective joy.

Famine and Feast

As you may well remember, in March 2020, life came to a halt. What had been “successful” suddenly stopped. For me, I was traveling around the world doing Laughter Yoga and connection programs. Then it all came to a screeching halt. The money that organizations had for programs suddenly dried up and there was no work to be had. In other words, my business found itself in a famine.

However, as the business contracts dried up, I found new space and room to start a Global Laughter Club. This club met 3 times a week on Zoom and brought deep joy to participants’ lives through dark days. Laughing together is the best way I know how to facilitate my love of and for other people. Even though COVID initially created a famine, this Global Laughter Club brought a feast. A feast of togetherness, love, joy, laughter, and well-being. When we come together from all over the world to be human - to really see and experience life and all its problems – we are presented with a feast of meaning and connection.

Isolation and Love

From March 2020 to November 2020, I hardly saw anybody in person. I was living alone and fearful of getting COVID. Through this time, I, like many people felt a deep sense of isolation. The days seemed to blend into weeks, and the weeks melted into months of loneliness. The isolation I felt was profound and there didn’t seem to be an end in sight.

However, towards the end of November 2020, I found myself in a new relationship. We were (and are) happy together and were desperate to spend time together. In January 2021, we decided to move in together. If we would have met pre-COVID who’s to say if we would have made the same choice – maybe yes, or maybe no? But, the restrictions of COVID made our decision clear: we didn’t want to be without each other.

In February 2021 we were engaged and on October 10th of 2021, we were wed! (Yes, my year was fast, furious, and wonderful!) I went from being totally isolated and lonely to having love in my home and in my life.

Frustration and Forgiveness

At the end of June 2022, I got COVID. I tested positive for 17 days and was in bed for most of the 14 days. Currently, I’m writing this in October (5 months later) and I am still suffering from residual effects. I have a hard time breathing and I am exhausted most days. Truthfully, this experience has been so frustrating!

But it’s been through this frustration that I’ve started to explore my own ability to forgive myself. Recently I’ve been learning how to forgive myself for not being able to bring my all into my business. There are days now that I can't get out of bed and days that even doing one meeting exhausts me. The sickness of COVID has been difficult, but it’s edged me into a territory of self-forgiveness I may have not otherwise explored. I have been forced to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. Like slow afternoons with my husband or the cool breeze of autumn.

So, What’s Next?

What I’ve come to realize through these paradoxes of COVID is that it’s time to re-invite myself once again. For the moment, I’m not able to lead my laughter classes due to the residual effects of COVID. As I’ve wrestled with this personally, a close friend and wise coach asked me, “So, what are you going to do next”?

Here’s what I know for sure. I am focusing on Gratitude, Joy, and Positivity in order to connect people to themselves and then to others. I am creating invitations for people to be human together and to experience life, including the workplace together. I’m helping people play into their strengths and support their weaknesses.

As Banksy, the artist says, “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.”

Transition

Perhaps you, like me, are going through a personal transition based on the many paradoxes of COVID. Perhaps you are turning inward and figuring out what works best for you. Perhaps you’re learning to celebrate strengths you didn’t know were buried underneath. This is a time of transition for many, if not all, of us.

We are figuring out how to step back and reset so that we can heal and come back stronger. We are transforming our expectations and celebrating what we can do. We are embracing the changes and holding on fiercely to the things we love.

Starting From Within

The only thing that is constant in life is change, so learning how to navigate the paradoxes of change with self-compassion at the center is paramount to our individual and collective success.

At a Human Workplace, we often talk about putting love at the center of everything that we do. I’m reminded that it needs to start from within. To love others effectively, we must first be at peace with ourselves. This is why self-care and self-love are crucial as we all look to strengthen ourselves emotionally and physically.

Covid has challenged us all. It’s brought famine and feast, isolation and love, and frustration and forgiveness. But through it all, it’s given us all an opportunity to embrace change with self-love at the center. If you are navigating a change and need community or a listening ear, reach out. You’re never as alone as you think you are.