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By Valerie Harris, stillpoint Foundation Training Student
Valerie’s granddaughter, baby Maya
So where were you when the corona virus took you into its vortex of confusion? What should we do or not do?
Nobody really understood the rules of engagement or severity of this virus when it first hit NYC. The havoc for me began the day I returned for the Third Module of my BCST Foundation Training held in NYC. We were all so excited to be together and to continue on our quest for a sacred skill to help others. EVERYONE wanted to continue with our learnings. No one really understood how to proceed with engaging in life and avoiding the virus. Several students were ahead of the curve and headed home before a lockdown in NYC ensued. But not even social distancing could keep them from continuing their training with the group…(I can’t believe that this dinosaur who wasn’t on Facebook until this week is saying this, but…) THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY and ZOOM.
We ended class early on Sunday because the world was unravelling and we all just needed to get home. The streets and stores were depleted of people, energy. The buses were empty. That was the last day I had social contact with people other than my family. What a special group of people to have spent my last social hours. I will always remember that week of support and resourcing.
I remain at home since that day and like so many other people have been denied some of life’s pleasures, life’s milestones. During this lockdown, my son gave birth to my first grandchild. I could not visit her or hold her. I could not see my son’s face when he held his first child or hug my husband in joy on this great day in our lives. My husband is a physician in a hospital and is banned to the basement in self quarantine. I don’t know how long it will be before he can hold my hand again.
So what forces are at work to keep me sane? Keep me connected to the world? Community. How do I define community at this time? A group of people who have each other’s best interest in mind. A group of people to help you in whatever capacity needed whether it be mentally via a phone call, text, zoom session, physically to buy or cook food or drop resources at your door, or make masks/signs supporting our front line workers who put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe.
Since that day in March when the lockdown began in NYC, I have stayed connected to my BCST friends and have spent many hours connecting to my field within field within field of positive energy. Today marks week four of social distancing and although I feel a heavy heart for the world, I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to deepen independently with the BCST work and with my BCST family.