It’s Wednesday morning and I did not want to get out of bed today. It seems like it’s getting harder and harder for me to want to get up early. If it weren’t for my 5 year old telling me his tummy was grumbling because he was hungry, I very well could have laid in bed until…
I’m sharing my thoughts today because this is such a crazy time. We have no idea when this virus will go away, when we can go to the store without fear of picking up germs to bring back to our family. We have no idea when we can hug and squeeze our friends and family outside of our quarantine circle.
I keep volleying back and forth between, “everything is okay and everything is so not okay.” I am working hard on my meditations, literally listened to 3 or 4 before I checked any social media today. I try to allow myself time to process, grieve and allow myself to feel the feelings. Yes some people have it worse, but it doesn’t make your or my situation any easier.
I keep reminding myself that the kids are happy and healthy. Joe and I are healthy, and if I’m being honest, he’s always really happy! It’s me who spirals out into monkey mind of, ‘what if’ and ‘what about’? But that’s always been us. He’s Mr. Sunshine even on the grayest day, and that’s one of the things I love about him, but he’s him and I’m me and we are different.
So I guess all I’m trying to say is, if you need the good old fashioned shower cry, go ahead and do so. But please talk to someone, write things down, and give yourself some love. Read some books, watch some TV, work on a craft or bake if that is your thing. As humans we need to feel productive, so I always feel best after baking my family cookies or crafting a blog post. I want to continue to show up, even when I don’t feel like it. Yup. I don’t feel like doing a lot these days. I was killing my at home workouts with Tone it Up routines and then bam–stopped.
I still walked the dogs the last few days, but not showing up and sweating and getting that extra cortisol out really messes with me I think! I’m making it a goal to sweat daily again. My body, mind and soul needs that extra push right now and it’s so true that we should be taking the very best care of ourselves during this time.
I’m still getting up and writing down 5 things I am grateful for in my Start Today Journal. I am writing in my journal. I am working on quieting my mind when the negative chatter comes into play. It’s an all day every day battle and I will admit Sunday I even had to check out a bit. I laid in my bed and watched Hulu for a little while. I just needed a tiny break. We are not meant to be “on” 24/7 and as moms, wives, friends, daughters, we are fixers and trying so hard to make things right. I check in with a few close girlfriends and my family through Marco Polo or House Party. I do think it’s important to stay connected as much as we can!
As for a “Schedule” — nope. We ain’t got one! I love a good routine and groove, but my kids are still little so they’re not sitting in front of computers or iPads for hours on end. I kinda just let things go where they may. They have been enjoying a bowl of cereal on the living room floor and watching cartoons together. It’s the little things. If the weather is nice, which it was yesterday, ZERO worksheets were done. Sorry #notsorry Cuomo. Instead we all hopped in the truck and spent 5 hours at our land. Walking in nature, looking for items on a Nature Scavenger Hunt. We saw worms, animal bones, feathers, deer poo, and got real muddy. I even got a little sunburn on my nose! It was glorious.
I know that I cannot play the “I will be happy when…” card, but I do know that once our weather finally breaks and this 30/40/low 50 degrees crap is gone, we will be living outside! It is supposed to snow this weekend so Joe already promised me a fire. I can live with that. I have my Jessica Simpson book I want to finish!
I guess my rambling here is it just let you know, you are not alone. No matter where you are and who you’re #stayinghome with, just keep going. If you look for the good, you’ll find the good. If you look for the bad, well you’ll find that too.
1. Plug keep plugging into positive people, my personal faves are, (aside from my husband)
2. Sweat. Need ideas?
Tone it Up (You Tube and Free app)
Peleton (going to try)
3. Laugh. It really is the best medicine. Memes galore right now, lighten up and see the humor in the dark.
4. Eat healthy. I’m struggling with this one since I am out of fresh fruits and veggies, but try really hard to eat 5 colors a day, throw in some extra frozen vegetables or a smoothie. I’ve been eating Gluten Free and feeling pretty good! Make efforts and cook from scratch! (No preservatives.). I’ve been following Cara and Christina’s new book ideas.
5. Show up. Show up for yourself. Show up for your mom. Show up for your kids, your hubby, your dog. Just keep showing up. Baby steps like the move What about Bob. We totally need to watch that this weekend, we just love it! But seriously, DO SOMETHING that makes your soul happy. We will never get this time back. The negativity will creep in but you can stop it; we just have to keep showing up. Be the light. Bake the cookies with the kids, play the family board game, make some memories! This will not last forever.
Let me know what is helping you get through the tough moments right now!
