“Everybody has a plan until they get punched…” – Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson’s famous quote is a response to the question from a reporter on if he was worried about his upcoming fight with Evander Holyfield. The quote itself has been used by business, fitness, and motivational speakers to spark the reflection of how agile is your business/body/soul? It is also a fine example of a stoic response to worry.

When the iron fist of life shreds through us unexpectedly, plans change. Once the pain subsides, we have a choice. We can either carry on as we were and endure the risk of another punch or we can change course. We may be beat regardless of what we do but we if we are conscious, we have a choice of how we show up in the ring of life.

Yesterday, our son tested positive for Covid. A week ago, he had norovirus. The week before that our daughter had the norovirus. The punches feel like they keep coming. My daughter’s second birthday party that was scheduled for this weekend has been postponed. Our schedules cleared for the next week. We pivot and we adapt but I couldn’t help but feel like I was down for the count.

Today, my son is full of energy and is a living reminder of no single event defines us. Covid isn’t going to slow him down. Maybe tomorrow it will, but today, he is feeling good. I can choose to sit in morbid reflection about what could be and all that we are missing, or I can choose to get back into the ring of life.

Currently, my son is piling up toys in front of my daughter to distract her from the toy he wants to play with. My husband is quietly chatting with his friends online. Life carries on with or without me. We have no plans today. Or tomorrow. Or the next day. There is nothing more that can disrupt us as there are no more expectations. Our only concern is to be together and to take care of each other. Covid has a way of resetting our priorities and for that I am grateful.