The Miracle of Semi-OK

 "The truth is that--through the workings of love, science, community, time, and what I dare to call grace--some elemental shift will occur and we will find we are semi-OK. And even semi-OK can be a miracle."  Anne Lamott 

For the past several days it has seeped into my consciousness that I seldom feel OK. But according to Abraham Maslow I’m doing just fine. Referring to his Hierarchy of Needs pyramid most of my “basic needs”, which are at the base of the pyramid, are met. I enjoy plenty of food, clothing and shelter, and I live in relative safety. I was reminded of that in the aftermath of hurricane Laura where so many hundreds of people are left with nothing. Many who have insurance will soon learn that insurance won’t cover flooding, even if it was wind that destroyed their home. And so many of those had already rifled through their savings because of the loss of jobs and income. These people had little or nothing even before the hurricane. Now “nothing” has reached a new low showing them all the things they had less than 48 hours ago. Where I live, we expect some wind and rain from the remnants of the storm, but not enough to be a threat.  But are any of us completely “safe” living in the time of Covid-19? My wife and I shelter-in-place for the most part and do not take unnecessary risks, but thousands of people who are careful are infected every day. The most I can be on any given day related to safety is semi-OK.

The next level of the pyramid is “psychological needs”. I could write a book about that level but as I said, I’m now, in the era of Covid,  already not OK long before I get there. And I seldom if ever accomplish his last level on the apex of the pyramid at “self-actualization.” If this last level, at the apex of the pyramid, is where I am supposed to be, then I have little chance of ever being OK.  Semi-OK is the best that I can hope for.

However,  as Anne Lamott has said, being “semi-OK” can be a miracle. It’s a miracle that I am even alive. About eight years ago I was driving on I-75 south about 15 miles from here at the speed limit of 70mph, when I was rear-ended by a car going fast enough to total my car. I live with whiplash issues till this day. If his car had struck my car on either side of my bumper instead of straight on, I would be dealing with a lot more than whiplash. Well, I would be enjoying my “reward”, while my wife would still be dealing with my death. But I am alive and well and that’s a miracle.  I live in a miracle of plenty to eat and drink. I do not ever have to concern myself with starvation or even hunger. My stomach may growl from time to time, but food and drink is never far away. Even today, my wife is out and is going to bring home Panera Bread for me to eat. I’m feeling a little hungry, but the sensation is far from “hunger.” In an hour or so, I won’t be hungry at all.

I live in the miracle of relative safety. Except for the possibility of getting the coronavirus, I have few concerns about my safety. Regarding safety, I am always semi-OK. I live in the miracle of being relatively pain free. I am nine weeks post op from neck surgery. I experience some discomfort, but I am no longer in pain. During the three weeks that the pain was excruciating, the pain was all I could think of. That’s as far up the pyramid as I ever obtained, but now I can concern myself with other things. Regarding pain, I am semi-OK.

I could continue to list other potential issues, even at the level of “basic needs”, but I think that I have stated enough to make my point. Right now, trying to write something meaningful,  I am well into the category of “psychological needs”. I am no longer concerning myself with my "basic needs". What I’m trying to say is that even if ALL of my “basic needs” were met, I would be concerning myself with other things and would not be OK. If you, on any given day, feel that you are not OK, then consider that you are semi-OK. And considering all the things that are not to your liking, being semi-OK can be enough. .