Being Our Best Selves During Coronavirus

By Amy Dee

Many years ago, Mom snagged two last-minute tickets to Oprah’s “Live Your Best Life” tour with Cheryl Richardson. Our fantastic aisle seats were on the floor just four rows away from the stage. 

As an emerging speaker, I envisioned being pulled onto the stage with Oprah, where we’d connect so profoundly that I’d replace Gayle as her best friend, (I like Gayle, but you know how it is to be the third wheel). 

In my fantasy, thirty pounds of fat would magically plop off my body like an industrial size bag of lumpy, wet flour. I’d have six-pack abs, defined biceps, and cheekbones (think 5’2” Jennifer Lopez). I’d wear tight red, sleeveless dresses as a regular guest on the Oprah show (stop rolling your eyes, a gal’s gotta dream.)

The show was about to begin. Our amazing aisle seats gave me easy access to the stage. There was one empty, inside chair beside us, but otherwise, it was a full house.

I was mentally rehearsing my opening line to Oprah when a tall woman appeared next to me and leaned down to ask, “Would you mind moving over so I can sit in the aisle seat?” 

Mom (4’11”) is soft-spoken, polite and ladylike. If it were fashionable, she would still host teas, serve capered canapés, wear white gloves, patent leather shoes with a matching purse.

So it shocked me when my mini Mom threw the lady her killer stink eye and roared, “NO!” 

Embarrassed, I turned back to look for the lady and saw she was being mobbed for autographs. The woman who asked us to move so she could take our aisle seat was the author Cheryl Richardson, who’d soon join Oprah on stage.

The electric atmosphere had increased Mom’s stress level. 

Instead of responding thoughtfully, she reacted from her lesser self. She wishes she’d been kinder. Not just because it was Cheryl Richardson, but also because she wasn’t her best self. 

The coronavirus pandemic is amping up stress levels everywhere.

We see incredible acts of kindness. We also see some nastiness. IT’S TOILET PAPER, PEOPLE! 

To borrow from the song, 
“This is one moment in time to be more than you thought you could be.” 

Someday, when our lives return to normal, we will reflect on our behavior during this crisis. Let’s choose to volunteer where possible, help each other out, and be kind. 

Let’s act from our better selves so we can be proud of who we are, because even in crisis, we have a choice.
​
Looking for your next healthcare speaker? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to make your healthcare event a success!