It seems these days that people are having to make a lot of difficult and often polarizing choices. The news is full of the directions that people are heading or the group or opinion that they are choosing to side with.

When you think about it, we are making choices and decisions every day and every hour. We can start with what’s for breakfast and proceed from there. It seems difficult when it appears that certain choices have been taken away from us. But even then we have a choice. As many have said, it’s not what life brings us, it is how we choose to react.

Many are choosing to see this unprecedented period of time as an opportunity. We can even learn to embrace the confusion, the conflicting information and the ongoing changes. I am attempting to approach it in a Buddhic or perhaps Zen fashion, stepping back and watching it all happening without having to choose preference or opinion. There’s even some humor in the absurdity of it all at times.

For myself, I am choosing to insert more structure and discipline into my life while also remaining attuned to the flow. Being kinder to myself and others, reaching out further even while we are distanced. Delving into projects long neglected. Staying creative. Attempting to cast aside old notions, patterns of behavior and ways of operating. They all seem to be outdated and no longer useful. A great time to become more mindful.

I recently found an oracle card image that seems to say it all for me. A table for two with a tea setting is in the foreground on an expansive green lawn. Far in the background you see trees, a house, some mountains and a rosey brilliant late afternoon sky. All looks peaceful and yet at closer examination, one of the teacups is broken and a hawk is crossing the scene, indicating messages of minor disruption or potential worry. However, in the sunny portion of the sky is found an angelic image, the dove of the holy spirit, shining light down upon all that is taking place. This is where I want to find myself – involved and yet overlooking it all at the same time. We have the capacity to make the decision to reside in that deepest place of peace within – a dificult choice but we are surely up to the challenge.