This, Too, Shall Pass

The saying is believed to be based on a Persian adage passed down throughout time and made famous in 1852 with Edward Fitzgerald’s “Solomon’s Seal”. In it, King Solomon aims to create a sentence that will always be true – whether times are good or bad. In it, he responds “This, too, will pass away”.

It’s a saying I try to keep in mind in my everyday life to help me stay centered. In times of good, I try to take in the moment: The laughter of a child, the feeling of that cool autumn breeze, the time spent with family. In times of struggle I remind myself it won’t always be this way either: An illness, a difficult task, a stressful situation.

Covid-19 has brought about both the good and the bad at the same time. And when we are going through difficult times such as this, it feels like it will never end. It can be difficult to see the light at the end of that dark tunnel. I find myself coming back to this phrase constantly during this time. Because in fact this, too, shall pass.

I try to enjoy the somewhat slower pace provided by this pandemic – no running constantly with kids’ activities, no big events/gatherings we committed to attending. I also think about the struggles many others are having – unemployment, health concerns, lack of social interactions. Sometimes it’s even things that are trivial given the current situation – there won’t be any tailgating in the fall or going to see a football game with 95,000 friends.

These times can be trying, and these times can be difficult for many of us in many different ways. I find that it helps to try and focus on the positives, but above all, keeping in mind that this, too, shall pass.