We’re all finding a new normal right now. My hope is one day, far in the future, we’ll look back at 2020 and remember all the fun things we got to do as a family that year…
I know I said I would be back on topic this week but let’s face it, the world has been turning upside down since January and shit just got real in the states. I know it’s been crazy elsewhere in the world and I knew it was coming. This week I’m just not up for a normal “let’s go running!” kind of a post. Hope that’s cool with you guys if I stay off topic again this week.
Finding a New Normal in 2020
I’m not here to say I’m depressed or anxious about any of this. I have a normal amount of trepidation and anxiety, yes, but I’m doing everything in my power to be a thoughtful citizen of the world and #staythefuckhome with minimal contact with the outside world. So this post won’t be a Debbie Downer. Instead, I’m going to focus on the silver linings. Because my mindset has shifted a lot over the past three weeks.
Vacation is too short
When we went to Disney, we went to the parks and had family time from Sunday to Friday. I vividly remember telling my husband on Wednesday that I was already sad the trip was coming to an end. Not because I was sad to leave Disney but because I was sad to get back to reality. I wasn’t worrying about the blog, or fitness classes, or running all the miles while on vacation. My husband wasn’t stuck on conference calls or catching up on emails. Instead, we were free. We were free to be a family of four and enjoy each other and not fight or be stressed out. And it was so very liberating. A rarity indeed.
Upon arrival home and back into the swing of school, it was nice to be in a normal routine. But bittersweet, too. I missed the carefree days of spending time with my family.
And then life as we knew it flipped upside down. By Thursday we were told there would be no school on Friday. And by Friday we were told school was canceled until April 5. And as time marches on, it’s a strong possibility that school will be canceled indefinitely.
Finding a new normal
We spent the weekend like we would any other weekend. Playing video games, staying up later than usual, and relaxing. I cancelled all my fitness classes since almost every single one of my clients has kids and would have a hard time fitting in fitness classes anyway. And I prepared to homeschool my children.
Monday arrived and we had a schedule, school work, and a plan. And after that first day of finding a new normal, I patted myself on the back. We did great. My kids didn’t fight or squabble, we stayed on task through school work, they had lunch and recess, and after we finished “school” we went to the track for a little “gym” time. Day two has gone much the same.
Silver lining
Through these first few days of total uncertainty, I’ve come to realize a few things. First, I’m all about the hustle. I think it’s fun and challenging. I like tackling new projects and businesses, and watching them grow. But it’s exhausting. Being an entrepreneur and a stay-at-home-turned-working-mom is so beyond stressful I can’t even find the words to describe it. I do really enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. But…
There have been so many times over the years that I’ve been so focused on the hustle that over time I lost sight of what matters the most. And that’s spending time with friends and family. Granted I can’t spend time with friends now, but definitely family. If there’s any silver lining to this COVD-19 nonsense, it’s rediscovering the importance of the family unit.
Holding it together… for now…
The second thing I’m quickly realizing is that while I’m generally not a stressed out person and I’m usually very healthy, hitting the pause button indefinitely is very liberating. It’s nice to have a week of vacation or a weekend road trip here and there. But those times are short and I feel that most of us have a hard time truly disconnecting for a short period of time. We carry a lot of anxiety with us and it’s usually self-created and self-perpetuated. Knowing that I don’t have deadlines looming over my head or races on my schedule is oddly liberating.
Third, I’m a crafty person. When we run out of school work to complete, you better believe I’m going crafty. And reorganizing rooms and closets. I’m really digging having time to do the things we’ve been putting off for days, weeks, months, and even years.
Upcoming challenges
There will absolutely be some challenges along the way. I won’t pretend to think otherwise. I’m guessing we won’t be going back to school for the remainder of the year. If that does happen, it will change my life and businesses in a way I haven’t considered yet.
But, things change and we adapt. For now, I’ll be posting bodyweight and creative-equipment workouts on both Facebook and Instagram. And starting next week I’ll include some of those here as well. And I promise, I will get back on topic at some point. I won’t say next week because who knows what will be on my mind then. But if this keeps up, I’ll go back to blogging two or three times a week so I can have a creative outlet and keep up with my running posts.
2020 will go down in history
As of right now there are a few major U.S. cities with shelter-in-place orders. Two states have cancelled school for the remainder of the year. I’m sure something else will happen between now and the time this post goes live.
While all of this sucks big time — not being able to see my dad in assisted living, being spread an entire country apart from my brothers and my mom — heck, I can’t even go see my aunt and uncle two streets away! All of this just sucks.
But there is a tiny sliver of silver lining. And that’s spending quality time with my kids and husband. My hope is that when all of this is said and done and we begin to pick up the pieces and begin finding a new normal once again, that we remember what’s truly important. And it’s not work, it’s not money, it’s not the hustle. It’s family. And finding a new normal.
And one day, far in the future, we’ll look back at 2020 and remember all the fun things we got to do as a family that year…
Wishing you all health and wellness in this trying time. Hugs to you.
xo
Let’s talk…
What’s one thing you know that stresses you out but you love to do anyway?
How are you finding a new normal in the time of COVID-19?
