Originally published on March 25, 2020 on LinkedIn
Cue Summer Breeze… The Isley Bros. version…
Summer breeze makes me feel fine… Blowing through the Jasmine in my mind
While we find ourselves in the midst of much ambiguity I choose to find the rainbow and am very much appreciating the gift of recalibration that has been given. On a Target run on Sunday my sister made the comment of how eerie it felt with the streets being dead. I quickly replied that this is actually how Sundays used (were meant) to be back in the day where businesses were closed, and people were with family for dinner after Church service. While I am not accustomed to being held hostage within the confines of stay-at-home orders I do trust the science, and yet agree that too much of anything is still too much.
So, when orders are lifted, and things can go back to what was once defined as “normal” I am hoping each of us is able to hold on to a little bit of the slow down and let the “rat race” never return! I watched a movie with my Mom and Dad last week, and I can’t tell you the last time my grown tail watched a movie with my parents. I have taken for granted the blessings of my “own space” navigating working remotely, virtual classrooms for my son, and my Grandparents’ TV programming as we’ve been squatting with them during the 9+ month renovation of a historic home. While there’s nothing like a good old fashioned gunfight showdown in the middle of a conference call I freaked out about them being part of the most vulnerable yet blessed to have this time with them. My son with his great-grandparents. I choose to find the rainbow.
All of us have been inconvenienced, but some are fighting for their life or have lost theirs (or a loved one). Some are watching their retirement plans dwindle, but many have lived in generational poverty where economic instability has BEEN a way of life. While some are hoarding toilet paper many have BEEN wondering where the next meal for their child(ren) would come from long before COVID 19. May this experience bring us back to humility and reintroduce us to empathy. Oh, but by Grace there go I. I choose to find the rainbow.
What’s on your list of what you’ve been meaning to get around to? Writing my first #SummerBreeze article for LinkedIn was mine. In the midst of the madness, I choose to find the rainbow. What is your rainbow? I accept this recalibration and I am appreciating the slowdown! I am hoping we can carry some of this forward, (re)create some barriers to protect our space of the work/life integration, and not let the “Rat Race” NEVER return!
~Jasmine M. Johnson
FUN FACT: Summer is my favorite season, and I never thought I’d get so good of making Lemonade! Enjoy the glass you’ve made. Cheers to the #SummerBreeze!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading and reflecting. I hope we never return to that rat race – let’s enjoy this pace and restoring/creating relationships.
Amen
Loveed it! While reading it brought to mind those wonderful days long gone where the village did exist. I am enjoying the long days of conversation and togetherness of family. Sitting on the porch sipping sweet tea or lemonade….
God knows just what we need when we need it. Finding my rainbow in the midst of the storm. 💜💜
Yessssssssssss 😍
Thanks for sharing! Thank you all for reading, reflecting, and the comment.
Oh, and thanks for the soundtrack while reading along. 🥰
😘😘😘 Thank You for sharing Your heart and thoughts to help us #CClear
Enjoyed reading! Had me to reminisce how it was as a kid growing up. Coming home from school sitting down to a home cooked meal every day with family. Cleaning up, doing homework, playing games, and doing all other activities that we did as a family. With all the social media and technology, never give us time to sit back and think about the good old times that really makes up the meaning of the Beauty of life. God have gave us this time to sit down and look over our lives and put things back in place realizing what’s important and what’s not. So when this is all over I 🙏🏾 That life is different and we all have learn something from this.
Thanks for sharing, Jasmine.
I can only pray that things don’t go back to “normal” because normal wasn’t working!
Ooh Jazzzz! You have wisdom beyond your years… thank you so much for sharing your valuable and important thoughts.. You are a blessing to so many of us my friend! XO ✝️❤️