“A ‘new normal'”

No doubt our life as we knew it has changed overnight. It’s been a challenge for everyone to try to adapt to a new everything! We suddenly had to learn how to manage work, school, shopping, doctor’s visits, temple visits and many other things from the “comfort” of our home. But according to social media, this “comfort” is not very comfortable, and then, there is the extra cooking and cleaning!
We were told to keep “social distancing”, but we are still socializing and probably much more than before –not on the desired personal platforms- but we are still connecting with others outside our homes. So, unless we are incommunicado, we are still socializing, we are just keeping physical distance. Many times, a phrase can cause an impression in our minds and we tend to immediately focus on that impression. If this impression happens to be a negative one, unfortunately, we fill up our minds with more and more negativity, leading to stress, apathy, anger, etc. Yes, the past 2-3 months have been overwhelming, stressful, painful, but if we are one of millions of people who are healthy, have a place to live, have food to eat and have loved ones around us, then we should consider ourselves blessed and should be thankful for what we have –and for what we do not have as well.
This time of lock-down, mask/gloves wearing, and extra hygiene protocols have been tough for children, teens and young adults as well. As adults, we can understand, or at least try to understand to the best of our abilities the new protocols. Things are changing so rapidly around us and we have to try to make our decisions with utmost care and maturity, and yes, with a lot of thought and patience as well.
Children, however, do not know what’s going on. They just know that their happy times at the playground with their friends and going to school have come to a halt. If your children happen to be teenagers or young adults, well, they may not be very thrilled either, because their sense of “freedom” (normal at this stage in their lives) is gone and they are now having to “enjoy” more quality time at home with their parents and siblings 24/7.
It’s a new learning time for everyone around the world. We can either choose to sit down and stress about it, or we can choose to accept what is happening and think for a moment that this too, is a temporary situation. An extremely awful situation, but temporary nevertheless because everything in this material realm is temporary.
Life will continue, we need to learn to recognize the situations and put our best efforts forward, understanding that this is the only thing we can do. We are not controllers. We cannot control our future, but we can have the best attitude to overcome the adversities and we need to keep our faith strong. No virus, no weapon, no natural disaster can ever destroy that.
Let’s take these testing times as an opportunity to reconnect with our loved ones, with our family; but also, it is a good time for a little introspection, a good
time to balance things and prioritize. Engage your children in kirtan, reading and discussion of Bhagavad Gita; have a Q&A session, many interesting conversations start this way.
So, while we are connected to so many social platforms, let’s remember that the prime connection begins at home.
Physical distancing has also affected our temple, like many other places of worship, business, etc. At ISKCON Phoenix, strict protocols were put in place to ensure the well-being of our resident devotees and the community in general. The devotees continue serving our presiding Deities without interruptions and upholding the attention and quality required for this service; even in the midst of financial struggles for the temple. They are missing the association of devotees, congregation and well-wishers.
Until the temple reopens, please take a look at our live programs via Facebook @iskconofphoenix, including Daily Darshan, Srimad Bhagavatam & Bhagavad-Gita classes. Summer classes will start on June 1. Join us!
From all of us at ISKCON PHOENIX, stay healthy, stay strong in Krishna Consciousness, keep chanting and ALWAYS REMEMBER KRISHNA NEVER FORGET KRISHNA