Paralyzed by COVID impact

The whole world is paralyzed by the new coronavirus. People dying, economy collapsing. Science and research are seeking a vaccine, testing existing drugs, including experimental ones. The governments are doing the same. No one knows the recipe, but it could be a mistake not to try.

In my country has been declared emergency state. Schools, restaurants, sports facilities, most shops and services are closed. We are obliged to wear facial mask of any kind, groups of more than two people are prohibited, except the family. It’s strictly recommended to go only to work – if you still have one, and then stay at home. What else? Watch TV full of depressing news, empty interviews and other restrictions?

No, that’s not entirely true. You can see a lot of positive things as well. Nameless heroes among medical and rescue staff, food and drugs suppliers, who face the risk of infection every hour, every day. There’s also admirable army of volunteers. Thousands of people sew facial masks for themselves as well as for medical professionals. Many help in many different ways. Innovators convert diving masks to respirators or print them on 3D printers. Others develop effective protection based on nanofibers.

I’m grateful to see and feel so much humanity and good hearts. It brings me the hope to overcome the impact of the new coronavirus and enter a new yet unknown era.

Take care of yourself and your family, stay healthy.

Love, Ivana

P.S. Forced to spend a lot of time at home, I finally decided to face my fear of wet techniques. The image above belongs to my very first attempts in watercolor. It looks like painted by a schoolchild and that’s how I really felt. Please be benevolent, I keep trying.

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Miracles of the Light

Light was a first act of G*d creating the earth and living on it.

Light is an essential for most living creatures. It’s a part of nutrition without which we suffer and die. 

Light is a symbol of hope. It’s a lighthouse in the stormy waters of life, leading our steps to safety. 

Light attracts living beings and brings them to socialize and create community. 

Light helps to measure time and set milestones between seasons. 

Light phenomena in the sky were often a subject of various prophecies. 

Whether we call it Solstice, Hanukkah or Christmas, now it’s the right time to celebrate miracles of the light. 

Enjoy it!

Ivana

 

Frozen Snowdrops

Unlike other parts of the world we have a mild winter this year. In my place I have seen snow rarely, but I live at the altitude of 250 meters above sea level (about 800 feet), so this is the last place in the country where the snow arrives.

Until last week there was almost no frost, and my body was slowly preparing for spring. The same signals I saw in nature, among others a great number of beautiful snowdrops.

I love and admire these hardy flowers that pop up their white heads even under snow when their time comes. Year after year they assure us that darkness of the winter ends and sunny hope of spring starts soon.

I felt so happy to see the snowdrops a week ago, and I didn’t pay enough attention to weather forecast that reported strong frost. Unfortunately, meteorologists were right and the frost destroyed the living splendor.

Snowdrops are still in the place, white and green on colors, but you somehow know that there is a dry emptiness inside instead of juicy enthusiasm. I wondered how many of us did the same. Meeting crisis and still looking healthy, even though grief, regret or sadness are eating our soul.

And like the frozen snowdrops we need time to recover. A year could be just right.

With love, Ivana

Keeping courage

This week I drew a picture for myself, for my own encouragement and clear mind. I took color pencils into my hands and there began a strange heart to be formed, one heart from two opposite parts. There was a wide mixture of feelings – courage with hope, fight with faith, will with love, male with female. And it was their mutual cooperation which created the certainty that even impossible thing could be done.

Cooperation of the opposites is the key. In our everyday life we are naturally attracted into the groups on the basis of similarity. And it is also natural, that individual groups are opposed to each other. Sometimes it is only on a joke level and sometimes it can escalate into more serious fights. The same principle works in the big world of politics and adults as in kindergarten among children. Permanent focus on competition and rivalry gives the impression that nothing else could shape our identity.

And that’s why there must be an earthquake or other disaster from time to time. It’s an opportunity to check if malicious rivalry didn’t yet eliminate pity, mercy and solidarity. If there is still somehow kept the balance between Ego and Heart, if the common humanity is alive.

I pray in order to prefer voice of my heart to the cry of the ego and leave what is not essential. I hope to do it before some kind of disaster come also to my life. Unfortunately there are plenty of them worldwide.

With love, Ivana

P.S. I’ve been already told that the picture looks more like an ass than a heart….