I just wanted to check in on you guys. How are you doing? Are you getting through this pandemic OK? This has been difficult for some people, and it’s not always easy to tell when you’re being separated from your friends. Sometimes I get stressed and I become preoccupied with the future, but I’m trying to practice a new mantra;
Learn from the past.
Plan for the future.
Live in the present.
I’m sure I’m not the first person to have thought of this concept. The past, the present, and the future are all important, but when we focus on one for the wrong reasons, it becomes a problem. Have you ever known anybody who tried to live in the past, for instance? I want to reflect on my past and remember which mistakes I’ve learned from. I want to plan for the future, especially if there’s a recession or I lose my job, but I don’t want to live in the future. I don’t want to dwell on all of the what if‘s because it’s impossible to know what’s going to happen. I want to live in the moment. I want this time on lockdown to mean something. I want to look back on this time and feel as though I used it wisely, so these are questions I’ll ask myself. 
The Past
We shouldn’t dwell on the past but we should certainly reflect on it. Sometimes I like to recall bad memories and think of what I needed to learn from the experience.
- How was my past different from how it is now during this pandemic?
- And which parts need to change forever?
- What lesson do I need to learn from past hardships?
Before this pandemic I had no plan for any kind of catastrophe or crisis. That needs to change. We are not invincible and neither is our civilization or country. In fact, there are many things in our country that needs to change, but I can only focus on my own life, and I will remember that past hardships are meant to teach us a lesson. 
The Future
The future is for planning, but we must distinguish between having a plan and being a paranoid doomsday prepper. It’s a slippery slope. I want to be prepared for the future without being consumed with anxiety, and the best way for me to do that is to have a simple plan for various scenarios. These are the questions I’ll ask myself during this pandemic.
- What will you do if you start to feel sick?
- Do you have a Plan B if you lose your job?
- How much money do you have saved up?
- How long could you live on your savings?
- What is your plan if civilization collapses?
That last question is my favorite. Sometimes it’s fun to pretend like we’re preparing for a zombie apocalypse. Like I said I’m not a doomsday prepper, but I think it’s important to have a plan. Again, I want to think about these things, but I don’t want to dwell on them because if I’m dwelling on the future, I’m not living in the moment, and right now in this moment, there are many wonderful things to focus on.
The Present
I’ve only recently started learning how to live in the present. It’s a hard thing to do, and I know plenty of people who can relate. We become so preoccupied with the grind that we miss what’s happening around us. I’ve heard parents say one day your kids are babies and then the next they’re grown. If you’re not living in the present, you’ll miss important moments. These are the questions I ask myself in order to make sure I’m focused on the present:
- Am I safe, and if not what do I need to do to feel safe?
- What do I have to be grateful for during this pandemic?
- How can I use this time wisely?
- What new goals or activities can I focus on?
- Who do I need to check on?
That last question is an important one. If you’re lucky enough to have friends and family there for you during this time I hope you appreciate just how blessed you are. Some people are being quarantined alone. Don’t forget to check up on your quiet friends. living in the present makes the time more bearable at least for me. Instead of worrying about a recession I’m checking the progress in the garden, and that’s way more fun?
Have you learned anything from your past? Are you prepared for the future? And are you living in the present? I certainly hope so, and May the 4th be with you.