Rather than being bogged down by the seriousness and unpredictability of it all, I have seen so many people think of creative, interesting and fun ways to adapt to these restrictions.
Along with the hundreds of hilariously creative memes out there, these manifestations of creativity are fantastic and another testament to me of our shared human ability to be resilient and adaptable in the face of change.
A- We had a young women's leader leave Lauren this incredibly funny note outside under a rock:
B- My brother-in-law made a homespun printing press:
C- The trainer at the Provo Rec class I go to started posting online workouts to do at home, and without hand weights on hand I resorted to syrup.
D- Lauren got busy with her newly acquired collage skills and made this "Tribute to Coronavirus" collage complete with a TP flower vase.
E- Even though Ellie can't meet with her team to practice they all started doing the "toilet paper" challenge to see how many times they could juggle a roll of TP. It has been a fun way for them to stay connected to each other.
F- My mom decided to read books to her grandkids via Marco Polo and has recorded stories there that the littles can listen to throughout the day.
G- My brother arranged a virtual game night (though I chose to watch a movie with my kid instead) with my family and they had a fun time playing virtually.
These are just some of the things I have witnessed in the last 7 days that have put a smile on my face and made me wonder again at the capacity of human ingenuity.
One of my favorite conference talks is called "Happiness Your Heritage," given by Elder Uchtdorf in 2008. I'll quote some of it below but encourage you to read it as you ponder the time and opportunities you have to be creative during the coming week.
We can do this!
God is with us and is our creator and will continue to guide us along the way.
"I would like to speak about two principles that may help you find a path to peace, hope, and joy—even during times of trial and distress. I want to speak about God’s happiness and how each one of us can taste of it in spite of the burdens that beset us.
The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children.
Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. “There is a great work for the Saints to do,” he said. “Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.”6
The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."
4 comments:
Love, love, loved your post! It's great to see your positivity in all this chaos.
Thanks for the post, Jord. I do believe that we can create good out of difficult situations, but sometimes it is hard. Thanks for giving us some good, practical tips on how to create interesting and fun things during this tough time.
vfr
It is amazing me how creative people are at getting through this. the silver lining is people are being kind and loving!
Teachers are finding ways to check in on their students, we can virtually work out, talk to friends through technology. I am thankful for the gifts we have been given to weather this storm.
What fun ways to enjoy this crazy time.
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