Times of Uncertainty: Seeing the Possibility

It was early January of 2020. I decided to get a year prediction/reading for 2020 just for fun. I remember being told "

you will be in a more advisory role” as a Speech Language Pathologist.

When I heard that, I really had no idea what she was referring to.

Fast forward to March, now I totally get it.

COVID-19 really hit.

That's when the governor said schools must shut down and turn to digital learning.I really couldn't believe it or what

kind of impact it would have on myself....on everyone.

People were scared to leave their homes.

Students were attending school through digital learning.

People were staying at home for months.

Toilet paper was disappearing.

It was getting hard.

I found some days I didn't accomplish much at at all. Especially at the start of the pandemic. For awhile, I was just

really just taking it day by day. I was wanting to stay afloat and not panic. It got to the point that I just would tell

friends and family I was getting sick of this whole situation. I wondered when the pandemic would end, so I could see

my friends, family and travel again without worrying about getting sick.

Turning Point

I know it can be really difficult to even focus on the thought of improving yourself at a time like this.

After self-reflecting, I realized there IS a light or even a positive from this situation.

There is always a positive and negative to any situation.

This pandemic is no different.

What you focus on can come into existence, right?

As I been taught long ago, your thoughts can become reality, so best be careful what you are constantly thinking

about. Once I began to get a handle on the whole situation, I came up with some solutions.

Pick up a book

This could be an excellent time to pick up a book you have been anxious to read for a long time. I made a goal back

in March to read 100 books since COVID-19 started. I knew I was going to have A LOT of free time in the evenings

and weekends because school is out for the summer. I have never read that many books in my adult life.

Maybe not ever.

Yet, I hear of people reading that many books on social media.

Currently, I've read 39 books as of today of multiple genres.

Children's books, romance, non-fiction.

You name it..

Even books in different languages.

I'm hoping to reach my goal by the end of 2020.

Re-evaluating/Restarting hobbies

I've started to listen to podcasts in the morning more consistently.

One podcast in particular called Having it A.L.L. had an interesting topic about hobbies. The host Matthew Bivens

said we should have a hobby that involves physical activity, a creative hobby, and a hobby that has the capacity to

produce.

Meaning- produce income in the future.

I started to evaluate my own life.

I happen to have more than one hobby in both the physical and creative hobby category but not a hobby that

produces. That is one of the reasons I thought to continue my blog. Not only to take you all on my journey with me

but eventually turn this blog into something that I can provide services and products in the future that you all find

beneficial in some way. Blogging is also a creative outlet to write.

Do you have any hobbies you haven’t engaged in for awhile?

Anything creative?

This could be the perfect time to open that clarinet or trumpet case and start making music again.

Have you wanted to try new recipes?

With states re-closing and pausing re-opening, there is still time to learn to cook.

Learn a new recipe.

Perfect your spouse’s favorite meal.

Your spouse or significant other will thank you for it.

Learn Something New

You can learn anything new that doesn't even involve you leaving home.

Some of us currently are asked to stay home again because the uptick of COVID cases, so that's a good thing you

don't have to go anywhere to learn.

This could be any number of things-listening to a podcast, reading a a book, taking an online course.

I'm currently doing a combination.

Impact so far...

One thing I’ve realized during this journey is that I've been a lot more proud of myself during this weird COVID-19 time.

What do I mean by that?

Places have been re-shut down, vacation spots remain closed until later this year, so I have nothing but time. Time to

really focus on my more creative pursuits, what's important to me, and who I want to be moving forward.

None of it may be flashy or glamorous in a sense, but that doesn’t matter.

This “downtime” is putting things in perspective.

I am proud of the person I’m becoming.

Someone more knowledgeable.

Someone more capable.

Someone who is becoming a lot more healthy person because I’m exercising regularly. I'm putting it as a priority to

keep myself healthy.

Someone brave

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

What have you been doing during the pandemic?

Have you found ways to personally grow or reconnect to yourself....or even what's important to you?