Learning to inhale and exhale responsibly ...

Here it is, a Friday morning in this new year of the pandemic and I'm debating with myself about a trip to the grocery store. Snow is on the way and there are a couple of items on the shelves I'd like to have, but don't really need, before it arrives. Chocolate among them.

Two years ago, I'd not have been having in this conversation with myself. I was a frequent shopper who preferred to buy fresh and consume soon after.

Now trips are infrequent, planned for times when the aisles are less likely to be congested, and I play a little game after the automatic doors open --- "vaccinated" or "unvaccinated" while eyeing fellow shoppers. Whichever, I move away if someone gets too close; concentrate on maintaining distance myself.

No, I've not yet returned to wearing a mask in the store --- although that may come. This has been the week I've learned of the deaths from COVID-19 of some; have seen the tribulations of others now afflicted pop up in social media.

If nothing else, COVID-19 has provided first-hand lessons in the practice of inhaling and exhaling mindfully.

Here's a little meditation on the topic that I liked, published last fall in Unitarian Universalist World entitled, "Exhaling in Community," and the concluding prayer from the article, "May we embrace new understandings of how to be in right relationship to each other, even if we don’t like what we learn."