Nowadays I don’t get monthly magazine subscriptions, but when I did Oprah’s magazine was one of my favorites. I especially enjoyed her section titled, “What I Know for Sure.” I even purchased one of her books with the same title. It always filled me with appreciation and helped me see that no matter what happens in life...it will come out with a lesson or life experience. Her stories always hit home. Telling me that everything happens for a reason. I can really feel the need to read one of her stories right now or I am sure today’s life lessons will be a future “What I Know for Sure” story.

Who would have ever thought that I would celebrate turning 58 in isolation? Who would ever think the world would be practically closed down but for only the essentials? The Covid-19 pandemic sweeping us worldwide is nothing like I have ever experienced in my lifetime. In the 58 years I have been on this earth, life has thrown many curves my way. I have felt the shock and pain of my father's sudden death at the age of 19. I have mourned the all too short-lived friendship with a college best friend. I was working for an airline when 9/11 happened and its impact was very personal since I knew some of the flight crew members who perished. But as Oprah would say, “What I Know for Sure,” not everything was sad and sorrowful.

I have shared love, laughter and excitement with a partner and shared the awe of parenting three children. I have had opportunities to travel and see the world. Right now seems so strange, yet we all know it’s necessary. So many areas are impacted by the Covid-19 virus, so many front line workers are exposing themselves to help others during this pandemic. In so many different ways, our human experiences are coming full circle. We offer to help make masks, check on neighbors, offer toilet paper or essentials to those who don’t have it. And we spend time sheltered in place. This is what we have to do for us to survive.

I just keep thinking about Oprah’s words, “What I Know for Sure.” What I know for sure is we will get through this. We will look back at this time and remember it with sorrow over the lives lost, but we will also look back and realize what strength we had and what lessons we learned.