Rebooting Reality

Mid-way through a day of work I often feel lost in the chaos that has become my computer screen. With dozens of tabs and applications open, I can never seem to find what I’m looking for. The overwhelmed machine is glitching and lagging and freezing and dragging.

I hit restart and the screen goes black. An Apple logo appears with a progress bar beneath it. This rebooting process typically takes just a few seconds, but those seconds often feel like minutes. The computer needs this time to fix its connectivity, flush its RAM, and install new updates.

Then suddenly…the desktop reemerges as a clean slate. It has regained its functionality and speed. The clutter and chaos that was a distraction just minutes before has been eliminated. I’m able to refocus on my priorities and complete the day.

COVID-19 has brought devastation, stress, and uncertainty to so many people around the world. However, with the passing of each day it becomes increasingly clear that it has also given us an opportunity to reboot our reality- as a society and as individuals.

Just as a computer fixes its internet connectivity while it reboots, what relationships can we rekindle or repair during this time of shutdown?

Just as it flushes its RAM, what bad habits can we use this time to eliminate from our lives?

Just as it installs updates, what new habits can we incorporate into our daily routine to increase our performance?

We clearly have a long road ahead of us- in particular for the healthcare and essential business professionals who are risking their lives every day.

We also have an opportunity. We have the rare space required to reboot our reality and to emerge from this crisis with greater clarity about our priorities and values.

In what ways are you rebooting your reality?

Picture: Taken in Slab City, California