Once upon a time…before the time of the novel coronavirus…we dreamed about slowing down, about taking a “pause” from life. We craved more time with family members. We prayed for more time to take care of ourselves. We asked ourselves if there was a way out of the “rat race.”

And while life is busier and more stressful than ever before for many people—essential workers, health care professionals, moms juggling work and homeschool—many others got the pause they had dreamed of. Just like that, our lives slowed down.

COVID-19 has stopped us from flying, shopping, eating out, getting our hair and nails done, dating, going to concerts, visiting the gym…

But COVID-19 has also presented us with an opportunity to get clear with our priorities, improve our technical skills (do you remember life before Zoom?), connect with family and friends, join and build virtual communities, cook and bake at home, and reconnect with parts of our being we had forgotten existed.

Do we need all of the other things that are not currently of our new reality?

Pema Chödrön said: “WE ALREADY HAVE everything we need. There is no need for self-improvement. All these trips that we lay on ourselves—the heavy-duty fearing that we’re bad and hoping that we’re good, the identities that we so dearly cling to, the rage, the jealousy, and the addictions of all kinds—never touch our basic wealth. They are like clouds that temporarily block the sun. But all the time, our warmth and brilliance are right here. This is who we really are. We are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake.”

What if the lives we had before had many clouds that blocked the sun?

What if COVID-19 is our chance to create a better world?

What if we are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake?

We can’t control the fact that COVID-19 happened.

We can control how we respond to the crisis and how we use it for creating positive change.

We need to see the opportunity in the fact that life will never go back to “normal.”

I have previously shared this idea that this time is divinely orchestrated for us, and it is up to us to use it as an opportunity. And now, as some of us have already transitioned to the next phase, the reopening (not here in NYC yet but in other states), we must ask ourselves this important question:

What can we do collectively to change the future?

Last week, after attending a meditation class with Sylvia Boorstein, I got inspired by an idea she shared. Sylvia said that reopening is an invitation to do things another way.

I believe that we are born beacons.

We are beacons of change.

We possess the ability to adjust to change. To create change. To be the change.

It is our sacred responsibility to use this awakening opportunity and create a better world.

I’m curious: what has been different in your routine during this time?

What parts of your COVID-19 routine do you like?

I know that I’m taking a risk by asking this last question. I’m taking the risk of pissing you off if you have experienced trauma and stress during this time. You might want to scream now, “There is NOTHING I like about this time.” I don’t judge you. I respect you, even if this message doesn’t speak to you.

For me, personally, this has been one of my busiest times professionally. My husband and I don’t leave our apartment in Brooklyn except for getting groceries, going to the post office, and taking walks. Supported by an amazing virtual team, we maintain the big operation of helping people in our Beacons of Change community navigate this challenging time.

More and more people are going through our virtual Reiki training. We’re mailing manuals before classes. We’re mailing certificates after classes. I host a weekly session of Facebook Live for my Reiki community, and we send Reiki to the world. I offer extra support to the women in my online Beacon’s Sisterhood and the women I mentor privately. I spend time in conversation with our students who have been exposed to the virus or are serving at the front lines. I start and end each day with gratitude for the opportunity I have to serve.

Although this time has been hectic for me, I would love to integrate some of the new habits and rituals I have created into my life when we reopen.

I would like to maintain an elevated practice of Reiki and meditation in the morning to ground myself throughout the day. I would like to continue practicing an evening routine that helps me brighten my energy and sleep better—and keeping a journal when I don’t sleep well. I would like to continue ending my day with gratitude. I would love to continue making time for watercoloring.

And more than anything else, I am committed to continuing to offer a high vibration to you and other members of our community and to the world.

What do you think, beacons?

What can we do collectively to create a better future?

Maybe we can live at a slower pace.

Maybe we can stay connected with family and friends, even when they’re far away.

Maybe we can take more time to meditate, reflect, and practice mindfulness.

Maybe we can make and experience more art at home.

Maybe we can initiate more and more acts of kindness.

Maybe we can bring more compassion to ourselves and others.

Maybe we can see the light, seek the light, believe in the light, even when going through darker times.

What is it for you, beacons?

What is one thing you can continue to do, so that together we can create a better future?