By Lawrence S. Sykoff
It is hard to believe that, only two months ago, we were carrying on business as usual. Nobody could have ever imagined that illness could spread so quickly and so forcefully change the routines, structures and normal sequences of our daily lives. The macabre news about the spiraling number of new cases and deaths from COVID-19 consumes the media. Clearly, we are all experiencing one of the most challenging and daunting periods of history.
The coronavirus is a universal common enemy and, often, that can bring out the best in people. We are learn only two months ago, we were carrying on business as usual. Nobody could have ever imagined that illness could spread so quickly and so forcefully change the routines, structures and normal sequences of our daily lives. The macabre news about the spiraling number of new cases and deaths from COVID-19 consumes the media. Clearly, we are all experiencing one of the most challenging and daunting periods of history.
The coronavirus is a universal common enemy and, often, that can bring out the best in people. We are learning new ways to come together in an effort to flatten the curve and marginalize the spread of the virus. Broader perspectives about the inherent value of collaboration, communication and cooperation are emerging every moment. Even during this most devastating time, there are many lessons to be learned. We can take solace in knowing that, while major tragedies can disrupt our lives, they may ultimately clear the path for new levels of unity.
Evidence of this silver lining can be seen in the array of news stories profiling uncommon acts of courage all around us. Daily examples of how ordinary people find the inner strength, compassion and concern to help hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of others give us reason to be optimistic. These accounts of bold fearlessness define great generations. We are reminded that resourcefulness, ingenuity, creativity, innovation and humanity are the enduring characteristics that have always prevailed in times of great struggle. The courage and bravery of front-liners, as well as those quietly engaged in acts of heroism in the background, sustain our faith, just as they did through other widespread shocks in history.
And, as before, there are lessons to be learned from this experience.
• Technology connects us now more than ever. While we have known this for quite some time, it is the critical engine that drives large-scale business activity and serves as the conduit for universal inter- action. We no longer think of people or nations as separate from one another. Zoom and other platforms of teleconferencing have paved the way for us to sustain continuous worldwide connectivity. Such global networks are already igniting a “pandemic” of innovation.
• We no longer need to worry about lost educational opportunities due to prolonged school closings. Remote learning systems, managed by innovative teachers and administrators, enhance the way we deliver and share information. Such teaching and learning formats harness untapped potential and introduce a new range of opportunities in distance learning. Internalizing this ever-expanding teaching paradigm will be key in responding to future epidemics, pandemics or any other disruption of such magnitude. Our approach to alterative learning formats through technology will only become more imaginative in the future. We will forever be better prepared.
• We are reminded of the value that comes from meaningful relationships with family and friends. The coronavirus pandemic underscores this common truth. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes the chilling thought of possibly losing people close to us to truly appreciate them. If we ever doubted the value of attachment and connectedness, perhaps now we understand it with renewed meaning.
• Genuine social closeness can never be replaced. The possibility of loss often triggers a new sense of appreciation, and it can inspire more generosity. It is easy to understand that the minor inconveniences and occasional frustrations have just become smaller, eclipsed by the endlessly heartbreaking stories and images on TV and social media. We learn from these horrific episodes how to thoughtfully distinguish the essential from the nonessential.
• Discussing the value of optimism may seem somewhat tangential during these stressful times. However, it’s precisely now that we need to allocate time for positive thinking. We often find new purpose and meaning during periods of transition, if we allow time to move forward with a deeper impact on reshaping our lives. It is natural to look back to happier days when we were unconstrained and life was predictable, but we don’t need to stare.
• When we change our attitude and our internal dialogue, we change our entire outlook. If we need inspiration to make such a pivot, all you need is to watch the daily parade of intrepid nurses and medical teams who march into compromised medical facilities to save strangers’ lives. The impact of 9/11 has elevated our appreciation for people who do this work, when we agonizingly observed heroic first responders enter buildings knowing they were enveloped with tragedy, anguish and loss. Such expressions of courage are all around and, indeed, there are many heroes among us. There are many reasons to remain optimistic and to challenge our resistance to change.
How we respond to, and recover from, this pandemic will redefine how we function as a society. There are many lessons to be learned and, if we can internalize them, we will cultivate a renewed self-awareness. This new vision will strengthen our resolve and resilience, giving rise to fresh perspectives for the coming days.
There is good reason to believe we will experience a swell of contagious optimism, unlocking a new era of widespread growth, in the months and years ahead.
Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed.D., is headmaster emeritus at Ranney School and president of LSS Consulting Group
This article originally appeared in the April 23rd, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
