Let's face it: this is not the most inspiring time. The answer to pretty much every question about what you did or how you spent your time is the same: I stayed home. Here on Vancouver Island, our restrictions cut us off from family, from friends, and from many of the things that help us feel happy and connected. We're in a pretty sweet little bubble here on the Island with our case numbers, but the restrictions feel daunting, and are starting to wear on everyone. It's so very quiet just now, but peace can sometimes feel elusive.
And this has me asking myself what I'm going to do to accumulate resources to get me through to the other side of these long days at home during the darkest, wettest time of the year. I'm not talking about things or prosecco or chocolate (though let's face it, they have been known to give short-term symptomatic relief). I'm talking about the kind of resources that are really going to insulate me, fill me, and guide me through the days and weeks ahead. Here's a few things I'll be doing this next while...
Get outside. I know I talked about this in my last post, but fresh air IS medicine. It can be a slow walk near home, taking the time to appreciate little details that you'd normally miss when cruising by at full speed. It can be a walk in your back yard, taking in the little surprises that pop up in your winter garden. Having a dog has forced me outside more than ever this winter, and it's made a huge difference in my mood and attitude (yes, even on those days when I arrive home soaked through from our west coast rains).
Look up. I've been walking Tucker every Tuesday and Thursday morning on the same loop, and one morning it occurred to me to look up from the road. It was a lovely, sunny morning and in the distance the hills were shining as the sun reflected off all the raindrops from the night before. Since that morning I'm making a point of looking up and I'm amazed by what I see. Sometimes it's a super cool cloud, sometimes it's an eagle, and other times I just appreciate the space and freedom in the air above me. It's a simple pleasure, but looking up has brought many special moments my way this last while.
Find a good book. Our libraries are open again, but I've grown accustomed to reading on my tablet and I'm plowing through books at a record pace these days. Some are light and fluffy tales, while others invite me to contemplate my life and walk with God. A good read is a wonderful place to get lost in time when forgetting about reality for while is badly needed.
Visit my sewing room. I'm blessed to have my own space in our home to retreat to. There are big trees just outside the window, and above them, the sky. It's peaceful there, and it's such a great place to be quiet. My mountain of unfinished sewing projects lives there too. The pants that just need a seam re-sewn, the sweater with sleeves too long that needs altering, the Christmas tree skirt that I sewed four years ago that has yet to have binding sewn on. These projects have been taunting me every time I visit my space, and I've decided it's time to clear the sewing table. I've been putting on a podcast, lighting a candle, closing the door, and I have to say, it's lovely to hide away from the world for a little while now and then.
Fill my freezer. The fall is always a time when I squirrel away large batches of pasta sauce and soup. It's easy to get overwhelmed as I stand over the mountains of veggies at the start of the cooking day, but then I remember the pleasure of pulling a mason jar of yumminess out of the freezer in January and February, knowing that dinner is all taken care of. I've also been baking, which is a dangerous proposition because large batches of cookies and muffins in the freezer are a recipe for overindulgence. But I've solved that problem by sharing with neighbours! They love finding a bag of cookies at their front door, and I get to keep baking.
Connect with friends. Our life is busy. And it often doesn't leave time for solid connection with friends, which is something I lament about regularly. But with us confined to home this winter and many of my usual activities cancelled, I suddenly find myself with time to pick up the phone and call someone, or to meet outside for a walk, or to cozy up on the sofa with via FaceTime.
Friend and Follow with Intention. With being forced to spend so much time at home, it's easy to spend half a day scrolling through social media feeds and fill my brain with things that just aren't good for me. I've made a point of trimming my feeds and being very intentful about the content that I engage with.
The way forward is through, right now, it seems. But to move through this time we need resources. We need coping strategies. We need to give ourselves grace and patience and compassion. And we need to give ourselves gifts like the ones I've talked about each day, filling our baskets with little treasures to get us through this challenging time. Enjoy finding your resources, and feel free to borrow some of mine along the way if you need to.
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