Silver linings through COVID-19
Happy Wednesday! Oh wait, or is it Tuesday? Monday? … DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS?!
MONDAY. Yeah, that one.
It certainly feels like the days are running into each other or even being skipped all together. Weekends have felt more relaxing given the ample time to complete our typical Saturday & Sunday home projects during the week. Covid-19 has turned our 9-5’s into all-day’s, because what else are you going to do but hop on your Outlook email the very second you wake up and continue typing all the way through your Netflix binge of Ozark Season 3. (Anyone else shocked at the way that ended?! SAME.)
Can’t do much else, right?! Ehhhhhh… I say ‘WRONG’.
This season of life has been challenging, I’m not saying it hasn’t. We’ve all been affected differently. Navigating through a shift in our daily routines and being ‘stuck’ within the same four walls has felt weird. Change is something most of us avoid, if not run from; a tremendous amount of resistance the second we feel forced to move away from comfort.
However, there’s always a silver lining and I’m known to be the person who chooses to see it in the most trying of times.
FYI … This isn’t my typical ‘home improvement’ or ‘how to be a project manager post.’ But hang in there with me.
Over the last 65 days of quarantine, I have surprisingly adjusted pretty well despite the shift and find the silver lining daily. I found out new things about myself, like how much I love riding my bike to the beach and that I really enjoy margaritas (mayyy have known that before, but I definitely found a new love for them). I took a break from using the straightener on my hair every day. Broke up with my eyelash extensions. Saved money on Duffy’s potato skins and pressed pause on the Home Goods hauls I never realllllly needed.
I created new routines, like morning work outs with @rachel_fitness and daily neighborhood walks at the same golden-hour. I brainstormed and journaled new ideas for my career and even purchased another flip project (so excited & more to come on that). I dialed into my work like never before, strengthening my client relationships and intensely focusing on my project plans, financials and new project manager methods.
I read articles on leadership and found out my type-A personality is both a strength and a weakness. I peeled back layers of my heart and discovered new characteristics. I taught myself what it feels like to set healthy boundaries, like saying no when you really want to say no … and most importantly, not feeling guilty about it. I connected with God on a deeper level. I realized that spending more time on self-love and self-care allows you to love others so much better because that’s when you’re being the real you. I took the last 65 days to rediscover what being real means. Diving into authenticity head first. Writing down my thoughts so they become concrete.
Nothing I mentioned above takes away any of the hardships that we’re facing as a country from this virus; medically, financially, etc. But it’s important we realize that we are SO VERY capable of fighting back to the resistance of change. Jack Canfield, someone who has devoted his life and career to helping others achieve their personal joy, meaning, and fulfillment of life said it best, ‘When you try to resist change, you rob yourself of the experiences that can transform your life on both a personal and professional level. When you welcome and embrace change, you open up and allow yourself to reach your greatest potential.’
I am thankful and excited for what’s to come for us all on the other side of this. We will take the fear, anxiety and change and turn it into possibility.
Be well. Smile. Push through.
Val
