I don’t think I need to be the one to tell you that the world has been in a state of crisis over the past several weeks. I have watched people (virtually) coping with this current state in a variety of ways. I have watched myself cope with this current state in a variety of ways. I have noticed myself often saying, “If I knew this was coming, I would have…” My main ending to that sentence has been that I would have flown home earlier and visited my Iowa family. As the weeks and the quarantine have gone on, I have realized that I cannot change the past and that nobody could have predicted exactly what this would look like. Okay, I figured I need to switch my mindset instead. Let’s focus on what I am going to do after this is over. I have seen countless facebook posts about restaurants being packed, games being sold out, and people hugging in the streets. I would be lying if I said that doesn’t give me goose bumps and a strong sense of hope. However, as I look at the calendar and wonder exactly when that day will be coming, I realize I need to change my mindset yet again. I need to focus on the present. What am I doing right now during these days? What can I be grateful for?
I have a gratitude journal that I ordered as part of my Lenten journey. I was beginning to feel guilty for listing the reasons to be grateful every day. Why was I feeling guilty? Because people are sick and dying. Because people and their family members are essential workers that are on the front lines of this and risking their own lives. However, these are not mutually exclusive things. Being grateful doesn’t diminish the severity of what is going on. Counting your blessings every day and finding small joys doesn’t mean you aren’t grieving for the people suffering from this virus. You can do both. So that is what I am going to do. I am going to list some of the things I have felt grateful for during this time.
I am grateful for my husband who offers me endless support and encouragement in all that I do. A year ago during this time, we were long distance and had been for quite awhile. Now, I am stuck with him 24-7 and that is truly a blessing (he may give you a different answer though, I am high maintenance).
I am grateful for technology. Technology allows me to still talk to my family on the phone every day. It allows me to video chat with my niece and see her smile. It gives me access to photos of my other niece as she grows up. Communities can still celebrate Mass and adoration through live streams. Technology connects me to my students who I miss dearly and allows their education to continue, which is a sense of normalcy and routine that is needed. It means I get to zoom (this is not a sponsored ad, but I think we all know how amazing zoom is) with my friends, old and new. We still get our game nights in while maintaining social distance.
I can’t help but spend my day smiling and appreciating Hershey’s companionship. Whether it’s her going on runs with me, playing in the creek near our house, or cuddling with me on the couch while we watch movies, she can brighten any day with her goofy energy and sometimes excessive barking.
This time allows me to reflect on the beauty of nature. I am getting extra time in the sun (my favorite thing as you know). I have moved my runs outside on the trails. We spend some of our evenings sitting in the backyard (playing Yahtzee) underneath our lights. With the weather being warm recently, I can move my prayer time (which has also increased) to outside. Nature is certainly always there during this uncertain time.
As I am thinking about gratitude in my own life, I will leave you with this quote worth reflecting on: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”-Cynthia Ozick.
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