Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.

Gandhi

When I started this blog, my true intentions were to connect with my Lola + Rose Emporium audience in a more in-depth platform than Instagram. I intended to feature my shop products regularly, share behind the scenes, and relate to you all with funny anecdotes and general nonsense. I’m super sarcastic, and I LIVE to entertain, so I truly thought this platform would be a great way to share that side of myself. NOPE. Not yet, anyway. All you’re getting are my internal mushy, hippie-hearted guts. This has really turned into my Sunday afternoon reflections. AND IT HASN’T BEEN FUN.

This year hasn’t been fun, but I have so much appreciation for what we are experiencing. I don’t expect people to read this anymore, honestly, simply because week after week it’s becoming more of the same. I hope to one day turn it into light-hearted how-to’s and product reviews. For today though, I’m reflecting again.

Yesterday, I was super anxious most of the day. I finally accepted that I probably will contract Coronavirus at some point, but I probably won’t die. Most people I know will probably contract Coronavirus, and they probably won’t die. And Summer 2020, by the grace of the unknown, will be LIT AF.

I listened to a brief interview between Oprah and Idris Elba (Covid-19 positive) yesterday, and he put into words what’s been on my mind all week: Earth asked for this. PLEASE don’t mistake this for a flippant remark. No one deserves to die at the hands of this illness. What I mean to say is that Earth’s immune system has been overworked, weak and stressed for too long. No matter what side of the political fence you’re on, the last several years have been nothing short of volatile; not only on a national scale, but globally, too. We’ve been at each others’ throats here in America. We’ve been angry, sad, desperate, hopeful, hopeless and everything in between. We’ve seen institutions begin to crumble under #MeToo, but not without a fight. We’ve seen our own nation burn uncontrollably. We’ve seen mass shooting after mass shooting. We’ve been gaslit by the words of unstable leaders and sold fear and hatred by money-hungry media. And that’s just here at home.

I’m not educated enough to comment on global turmoil. The limited information I do understand is not good. From what I know, the globe at large has been feeling the strain of recent years. Global warming is rapidly destroying the planet. Animal species are being decimated at the hands of humans, preventable fires are ravaging cities and countries. And none of this even touches on the way we treat each other. As Idris Elba said regarding the earth, “‘What you’re doing is not good, so I’ll get rid of you,’ as any organism would do, is try to get rid of an infection, and maybe this is it for the world.”

We will be forever changed by this pandemic. The globe at present is no longer divided by race, class, economic or social status. We are at present ONE united front struggling to regain control of our planet.

I can’t speak to others’ experience in this, but what I’ve seen is nothing short of miraculous. I’ve seen people being nicer and more patient with each other than I’ve ever known. The toilet paper aisle is still struggling to stay stocked, but I see people sharing. I see people being KIND. They’re leaving notes of encouragement, sharing positivity, uplifting each other, and even face to face, when I know everyone is scared to go near each other, showing grace and true awareness for others. This is just the beginning, and we have a long road ahead.

My hope is that people can come to the realization that what we have is enough. As a modern people, we have a “more” mentality. I know I certainly do. Well, “more” isn’t an option anymore. In fact, “less” is sounding more and more appealing (Marie Kondo, we meet again). I sincerely hope that big business does the right thing at the end of all this. That going forward, PEOPLE and the PLANET will come first rather than profits. I hope that small businesses will thrive. I hope that we will be happy just to hug each other or share a glass of wine over a table rather than a screen. I hope our collective consciousness is elevated. I hope that we will care about ourselves as individuals enough to operate from a place of grace and kindness not only to ourselves, but to all living beings.

My favorite artist, Lana Del Rey wrote, “It takes getting everything you ever wanted, and then losing it to know what true freedom is.”

Please, please stay safe. If you must work, THANK YOU. If you’re able to stay home, THANK YOU.

As much love as I can muster from my usually self-absorbed heart,

Liz