Hi guys!
These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of unimaginable events. I am sure this is probably the 100th post you have come across that discusses what is going on through peoples minds at this very frightening time, but I thought I would share what is on mine. If you care keep reading; I think you will enjoy this. You may even relate!
This wont be a post about the statistics of COVID-19, or give you information on how to best guard yourself from contracting the virus (#washyourdamnhands #staythefhome). I will not even discuss religion, politics or conspiracy (totally man made in my opinion, but also maybe the messiah is coming?)
All this fear that lingers between thoughts of life and death just gives people a chance to reflect on what really matters most in this world. It gives us an opportunity to think hard about what our greater life purpose is (shall we survive this dreadful virus…and isolation with our kids).
Now, let’s back track for a moment. Before all this Coronavirus madness hit the US, I started watching Hunters on Amazon Prime. It’s a great fictional show about these Nazi hunters in America around the 70s whose sole purpose was to find and eliminate all the Nazis the government snuck into the country after the war. A bit comical, but nonetheless, eye opening and entertaining.
It’s pretty sad to admit that I really did not know what was true and what was fantastically made up. I had to keep googling (is that a real verb now?) names, stories, events and dates to see what was what. Needless to say, I ended up learning a lot. I grew increasingly interested and dove into more of the history and survival stories surrounding the Holocaust. It’s chilling.
I went to Yeshivah my entire life and I find it pathetic that I almost knew nothing about the Holocaust. Sure, I knew about the mass murder, popular stories that became motion pictures and that there are still many survivors who continue to share their stories so we never forget. But, I didn’t know enough. Not in the least bit.
All this exposure to the history of Jews and other minority groups who were trying to survive war began feeling relatable in the days that passed (and that are coming). I mean, Jews who were lucky enough to hide stayed in confined and isolated spaces for years! With kids, with barely any food, without making a sound, without seeing the light of day, in constant fear of the worst striking at any moment and without complaining! And
yet, here we are with our privileged asses crying about having to home school and care for our own kids, not being able to go to the gym or pick up our daily frappes at Starbucks. I am definitely guilty of the same immature behavior, but when you put it like that all your left to say is…really?!
People are running rampant in stores trying to gather enough supplies to prepare for lock downs. People are draining their bank accounts in case the banking system fails and they loose all their money. Hospitals are turning away the sick over a certain age to fend for themselves. People are loosing their businesses and means to live. There is an underlying fear that people will turn to violence if supplies or money run out and they need to resort to robbing or killing. There is fear of the unknown and how we will protect our families in times of distress, possible starvation, illness, violence and who the f knows!
I pray nothing comes to that. I am pretty confident it won’t, but it is still something that crosses every person’s mind (especially parents). The road ahead is going to be tough for the most of us, but we are fortunate enough to know there is an end in sight.
And so, as I was googling away about people who fought to bring Nazis to justice in the 70s, I came across this one wonderful Jewish survivor, Simon Wiesenthal. A survivor of the death camps who went on immediately after being liberated to find all the Nazis guilty of war crimes (as well as crimes to humanity) and bring them to justice. He discussed the reasoning as to why he was doing this and it hit me hard.
Simon Wiesenthal had been trained as an architect before the war. People would ask him why he did not go back to practicing architecture after the liberation? Why spend so much of his life dwelling in the past and chasing after these people? He said the following:
“You’re a religious man, … You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and meet the millions of Jews who died in the camps and they ask us, ‘What have you done?’ there will be many answers. You will say, ‘I became a jeweler.’ Another will say, ‘I smuggled coffee and American cigarettes.’ Another will say, ‘I built houses.’ But I will say, ‘I didn’t forget you.’”
Powerful words.
Obviously I felt connected to his sayings because he was an architect in his past time. At first I thought, damn is what I do stupid? Is it meaningless? Am I just working to make a living? What is my purpose here?
So I sat there for a moment and contemplated, and here is what I came up with.
Let’s be clear, I LOVE design. Since I was little. I am not a mathematician, a scientist, a writer (well maybe a little) or a doctor. I thrive in any creative or emotional field. Interior design and architecture happens to encapsulate everything I am good at: technology, psychology/sociology, art, fashion, creative thinking and yes, writing too. I know when I build a home I am helping create the setting for families to grow, for people to build relationships in, for memories to unfold, to host parties in, to learn, to love, to live in.
And so, in essence my goal is to create beautiful spaces that will bring about positivity and good into to the universe. Just as an OB-GYN brings babies into this world, I bring about the homes they will grow in.
Of course my purpose in life, on the basic but not so basic level, is to nurture and raise my beautiful and brilliant girls. I find it fascinating how you can see a light in a child from when they are just babies. I know my oldest is meant for something great; maybe an intelligence agent, scientist or medical expert of some sort. My youngest…probably the next Midge Maisel, but hey, at least she serves the laughs. Although I know there is
more than this for me, and pursuing that “more” will in turn directly effect the ways my girls pursue their “more”.
When I was in college we had to find a meaningful subject for our thesis project. I decided to recreate my community center to feel more cultural and to encompass more ways to serve the community as a whole and for generations to come. It would be a dream of mine to go steps further in my career and actually design a community building of some sort that would inspire young and old minds alike in the multitudes.
That will be my mark on this world, just putting it out there. Ask and you shall receive, right?
Stay safe everyone!
See you on the flip side at the toilet paper isle once they restock 😉
