“Another way to be prepared is to think negatively. Yes, I’m a great optimist. but, when trying to make a decision, I often think of the worst case scenario. I call it ‘the eaten by wolves factor.’ If I do something, what’s the most terrible thing that could happen? Would I be eaten by wolves? One thing that makes it possible to be an optimist, is if you have a contingency plan for when all hell breaks loose. There are a lot of things I don’t worry about, because I have a plan in place if they do.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch was an inspirational Carnegie Mellon University professor who died of pancreatic cancer when is was still a very rare disease in 2008. When he found out he had cancer, he decided to write what he considered his “last lecture” of his observations about life and delivered it lecture-style in class in 2007. He was a champion of making every day matter. I am reminded of him today when I hear the panic that is happening about the coronavirus. The best way to handle it, in my opinion, is to acknowledge its seriousness, make a plan, be prepared, and don’t fret the outcome. Rather, spend the time enjoying the moments along the way and keep living, enjoying your life, and having fun as best as you can.
So……..what IS the worst thing that could happen I run out of toilet paper? I don’t think I would be “eaten by wolves”, or any other animal either for that matter, so it will be okay………….and we don’t really need to worry about it, because we “have a plan.” Maybe facial tissues could double for that dreadful day!
In the meantime, I try to see the beauty in every day……..while every day may not be beautiful, there IS beauty in every day, even while we are coping with Corona to come knocking at our door.
Enjoy ALL the moments; carpe diem, friends…………..
Carpe Diem with Caye 