Where were you five years ago?

Literally? Figuratively?

Both my partner and I were working intense, full-time jobs and our child was finishing eighth grade. We were privileged enough to be in upstate New York, benefiting from outdoor space as well as room to move around in our home, protected from the sound of sirens and the compact quarters of our city apartment.

Around this time five years ago, NYC public schools had just closed. Many of us began navigating remote learning, working via Zoom and decision making in the absence of facts and reliable information. We were gaslit by our leaders, said goodbye to loved ones from afar, celebrated essential workers, built pods and contributed to mutual aid. We were reminded of the best and worst of America–how we can be thoughtful neighbors and selfish bystanders.

Given the assault on our freedoms these last few weeks, it’s understandable that the many heartbreaks of the early months of the pandemic are not foremost on our mind. Reflecting on our collective trauma is challenging but necessary. A reminder of why we’re tired, struggling, angry, determined. Some people have moved on, but for many, COVID-19 is still a reality. Long COVID continues to impact our loved ones. The effects of the pandemic on small businesses – restaurants, hairdressers, dry cleaners–prevail. The summer of racial reckoning, a significant movement that felt it could transform America, now feels like a moment that we failed to integrate into our systems and practices.

Like many, I found that the lockdown clarified some things for me, not in a silver lining kind of way, but in an eye-opening reminder way. I've been thinking back to that time, curious about what is applicable from that crisis to this one.

The five things that come up for me are:

• Loving on my nearest and dearest

• Being aware of how interconnected we are

• Making responsible choices about my health and well being

• Seeking community whenever and however I can

• Unlearning anti-Blackness is a lifelong process

These feel like principles for the moment and for life in general. Maybe they resonate, and maybe you have others.

I encourage you to find the time to reflect on where you were five years ago, what grounded you then, and what you can draw on from that time to fuel you now.

Much love,

Sayu