Hey QWuties

So much has happened since we last spoke, Christmas, New Year, Valentine, The Rona, and the stock market crash. Chyleeee.

In my little 38 years, I’ve never seen the ENTIRE earth on lock-down. I even checked in with elders and they’ve all agreed that this is unprecedented.

Even as a person who is pretty cool under pressure, I’ll admit to y’all I’ve been concerned and anxious at times. The constant news coverage. The never-ending meetings at work mentioning Coronavirus and the business continuity planning needed. Concern for my friends and family and those in service industries. Then there is that creepy grey and red virus photo that they insist upon showing ever second. Also, there is the conflicting erroneous information.

Going to the grocery store is now an exciting adventure that requires Lysol and Clorox Wipes. My hands are also ashy AF from washing them all the time.

Life, as we know it, has slowed down, and I don’t know if it’s all bad.

You: Wait! Wha?!

Me: Hear me out

So this past holiday season was hectic for me. I moved into a new role at work. I’m keeping up with the orders for QW. Then a couple of my close family members were sick, and I spent the last quarter with extra duties as a caregiver. A close family friend also passed at the top of the year. It was a lot of running around, a little bit of sleep, way too much caffeine, a ton of new responsibility, and just feeling all over the place. Kobe passed. When I spoke to friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else I encountered, they seemed to have the same hectic vibe going on. Everyone pointed to a laundry list of things that they needed to do and rattled off the list of things that we were actually doing. It felt like we are all moving at hyperspeed and overwhelmed.

At the end of February, I felt like I was finally getting a little rhythm and settling in after the holidays. Then a whole pandemic makes its way across the earth.

How does one even respond to this?! I’m trying to get everything together to work from home and adjust and then make sure we have enough food and count rolls of toilet paper and check on people and keep up with the news and then support my clients and remain logical and rational…ugh

And then I had to shift my perspective.

In no way am I saying that Rona is a good thing. However, my mom always says “everything has a good side and a bad side.” I just wanted to give you a few positives of the Social Distancing and Self Quarantine portion of our situation.

1. Saving Money - We are all saving money on gas, dry cleaning, take-out, parking, tolls, etc.

2. Gaining Time - For many of us, our commutes have been eliminated or greatly reduced due to a serious reduction in traffic. This gives you time to do things around the house, ahem update your blog, or get some much-needed rest.

3. Family - This could be on the “bad side” for some lol, but we are getting more time with family. You may have spent time with family, but was it quality? Were you working? Were you tired? You’re now better positioned to give your loved ones your A-game. I find us laughing more. I am also FaceTiming friends instead of texting.

4. Clearer mind - When you get more rest, you can think clearer. This is where we get inspiration. I’ve gotten so many wonderful ideas in the last few days.

5. More Nutritious Food - We know we need to cook more, but after a long day at work and commutes there and back who wants to cook? Cooking more is always a good thing, and this time of self-quarantine gives us an opportunity to do so.

6. Acceptance - Slowly, we are accepting that there are things we can’t control and focusing on the things we can.

Listen, Friend, I don’t know how long we are going to be in this situation or where we will end up. However, I do know that life has a way of working out for the best. I’ve chosen to think of this time as a transformation period. I am caterpillar, and I am working to reemerge at the end of this as a fly butterfly. I think we all should.

Yes, this situation is dire we need to distance, quarantine, be super careful, and wash our hands. However, there is a lot of negativity and fear-mongering from external sources of which we should be mindful. I’m only suggesting we shift away from that a bit and focus more on our self-care and growth during this weird time. Be as productive as possible. Work on your physical and mental and spiritual self-care. Drink water. Read. Video chat with your friends. By using this time wisely, I am sure we will reemerge even better than before.

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