One of the hardest things in my “new norm” has been to go from buzzing around like a social butterfly to, what feels like, hiding like a hermit. I think hiding describes it best, because at 1st I didn’t want anyone to see what I was going through and I didn’t want to deal with the reactions. And then there’s the other half where I found myself struggling with the simplest of tasks. Hanging out with friends became overwhelming, going out was exhausting, and what used to be my normal had become foreign and arduous.
From losing friends, to my husband leaving me, to not being able to work I found myself completely isolated. I am so grateful for my friends and family and my church family that did stick by me. The monotony of every day being spent alone until everybody came home at dinner time was so surreal and so depressing for someone who’d spent most of her days talking non stop to now only being able to fit in small conversations here and there if I could catch somebody on a lunch break. Not gonna lie that 1st year, year and a 1/2 have been so difficult / different.?. Honestly if it wasn’t for those who stuck by me and some really good books and some well placed entertainment subscriptions I would have been bored out of my mind and some days I still am. But I have found that there is still hope and there’s still life after what you’re used to get turned on its head and your world is redefined. My new norm wasn’t something to be scared of, but to be embraced. That I could move forward and become somebody who I always wanted to be; nothing was really stopping me. And I’m not talking about the physical, but the emotional, mental and spiritual. Just because one door is shut didn’t mean that all of them were shut I just had to find where the window or The Secret hidden door was left open.
I found a calling and fulfillment in helping others get through similar trials. Helping friends keep their marriages were mine failed. Helping people in the same condition as me where diseases that have left them crippled to stay strong and positive. And trying to remember that there is still hope and there is still something to look forward to every day. To celebrate the big and small victories! Now I encourage you as you go through the rest of this blog and through this time of isolation whether it be the Corona virus or just your own personal mountain that you’re climbing or your own low valley that you’re trying to pull your way back up; that you would stay positive. Find something to keep yourself going, something that inspires you whether it’s reading a new book or starting a new club, volunteering, learning a new language, learning a new hobby, teaching yourself how to be, how to live your new normal. Dig deep and find a new acceptance for where your at. There are so many different outlets that we have in this day and age! I think back to the pioneering days how boring it would have been to live in this confinement back then. How glad I am that we live in this century and not the previous one. We have so much technology that being home and being bored playing around on your phone is nothing compared to what it must have been for invalids who lived back in the 1800’s. Every day you would sit/lay there all day and see the same 4 walls and do nothing. If your eyes were too weak for you to read you’d have to ask somebody who was busy taking care of very important daily chores to come in and read for you. The burden is far less living in today’s modern age you have a million different sources of entertainment. Even now I’m writing to you by dictation on my phone. If I were typing there is autocorrect to help (albeit faulty at times lol) and for me still alot easier than trying to hold a pen sometimes.
I think one of the best parts of having this wonderful technology is that we can still stay connected. Even though there’s nothing like human interaction; I will be the 1st to attest to that, but there’s definitely something to be said about virtual connection. And there is something to be said about the fact that we can inspire each other through our social media and text messaging. I’ve been thrilled to see how many people have been posting so many positive posts. Some have been funny, others silly, some sweet, still more caring and most important some have been encouraging. It’s been wonderful to see everyone step up in such a beautiful way and I think it’s all about perspective. If you want to be bored, angry, and horrible or think of all of the bad things that could happen or are happening then yeah being isolated can consume you and pull you into this loneliness pit of depression, but if you flip your perspective and think you know…. I could get a new book to read or I have really needed to just slow down and really reassess my life. Maybe there’s some life changes or life goals that really should be achieved like tomorrow and not wait another day
My List of Positive To Do’s…you ask?
Well here are a few
Memorize a Bible verse
At the mo its Phil 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Get better at sharing my story with others/being more vulnerable
Blogging more often
Start a new series
Make a new friend
Encourage another
Plan a trip
Volunteer
Work on my french
Get my other daith piercing
Get a doggy
Ways to Fill The Time
Strategy games on your phone
Phone/ text/ Polo/ Skype a friend
Games app that you play against friends
Reading/ audio-book (Hint: positive books and music are key!)
Language app
Knitting
Netflix, Hulu, Prime, YouTube… dealers choice (Hint: Again keep the content positive it will change your whole outlook on they day)
Jam out to some tunes
Workout
Bake/cook
Clean
Color (adult coloring books are fun! Don’t judge!😎)
Learn a new hobby
Get creative! Do something that feeds your soul!
Comments