Remedy

We all have our go-to song. My girlfriend’s is “Island in the Sun” by Weezer. My mom’s is “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa. My friend Ian’s is “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra. My friend Blake’s is “Everybody” by Logic. These are songs that can turn our frowns upside down on any given day, under any circumstance. And, for most people, they are songs that millions of people can sing by heart. When it comes to mine, though, most have never even heard of it. It’s called “Remedy” by Zac Brown Band.

You may not love country music like the majority of my friends, but this song is truly worth a listen. I believe that it is one of the best songs ever written because it can teach us a lesson under any circumstance. We can especially learn from it during this pandemic. Instead of getting lost in the vicious cycle of the news and partisan politics, we should focus on how we can help heal the wounds that this pandemic may have brought on. “Remedy” gives us the lessons we need to do just that. 

‘Jesus preached the golden rule, Buddha taught it too. Ghandi said eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind’

There is no lyric that could better sum up the attitude we need to take on right now. Whether it’s people blaming the president or the president blaming the former president, we need to stop playing this game. The pandemic is here. There is nothing we can do to change the past. Instead of dwelling on what could have been, we need to focus on what is and what can become. Like Zac Brown says, religion does not matter. We can all unite behind this idea of coming together and treating everyone fairly. We cannot let the world go blind. 

‘With a little understanding, we can break these chains that we’ve been handed’

It’s easy to jump to conclusions about people during this pandemic. Whether it’s the group of people who are eager to get back to work and “normal” life or those who believe we should be quarantined for at least another month to ensure everyone’s safety, we need to do better at putting ourselves in others’ shoes. We don’t have to lash out and vilify each other. We can make the choice to break these chains of misunderstanding and learn the perspectives of others. This can help us see things in a new light and understand that these people who have far different opinions are actually more similar to us than we might have imagined. Take the time to understand others better this quarantine.

‘I’ve got everything I need, let this heart be my guide in love, in music, in life’ 

Many college students are set to finish their finals soon and are bound to have plenty of time on their hands. Take this time and let your heart guide you. Find something new that you love. Play more guitar. Brainstorm a new way to help others. Learn a new language. Figure out what you really want to get out of your next few years of college (if you have any). Being quarantined has plenty of negatives, but the one positive is the time it gives us to better find ourselves. Don’t let this opportunity to follow your heart and do something you love pass you by. 

‘Life’s a gift that we have to treasure. Happiness, now that is the measure’

This pandemic has brought on so many hardships to so many people across the globe. The days may be becoming monotonous, finances might be getting even tighter and hope that this will be over soon may be dwindling. But we cannot let this be an excuse to let each day pass us by and simply look forward to the future. We need to appreciate our life, taking a moment to find happiness every single day. Whether it’s listening to your favorite song, watching your favorite Netflix show or playing a game with your family, take the time to make your happiness a priority. These are days we are never going to get back, and we need to make them the best we possibly can.

‘Love is the remedy’ 

We don’t have a cure for coronavirus. We don’t know where life is going to take us these next few months. Every one of us, though, can take a few moments each day to love someone else. Whether it’s calling your grandma in isolation to tell her about your day or mailing a letter to a hospital for a random patient to read in order to brighten their day, love can help us get through this mess. We all want to be loved, and you never know how much of a difference a small gesture can make in someone’s life. A vaccine may rid us from this disease, but love is what can heal us. No matter what you believe in, no matter where you come from and no matter who you are, we can all find it in ourselves to love one another. After all, we are Notre Dame. 

Love thee.

Tommy Diehl is a freshman from the Chicago area majoring in science business and global affairs. When he’s not writing for The Observer, he can be found playing guitar, running or cheering for the Cardinals and the Packers. Tommy loves feedback and can be reached at tdiehl@nd.edu or on Twitter at @tommydiehl5