Unique Times

Life has thrown us heartache and grief, yet we must continue to look at how we will show up and hold our hearts sacred, mourn the dying and reach out to those in need while we find The Silver Lining during unfathomable times. 

We are called into uncharted territories while we make our way into the next chapter of our lives. 

Regardless of where you find yourself on the spectrum of life, we are all being challenged to find our rudder and compass while we navigate these uncharted waters.  They can be turbulent no matter what your age, profession or living arrangements.  

Inertia can set in and create immobility and confusion, not knowing which direction to go in, or doing wheelies if you will, popping from one wheel to the other.  Or we start spinning into rapid fire without a direction or even asking what direction you want to be going in.  All of a sudden it’s as though a tornado hit and you are in the eye of the storm with no clue how you got there, on a desert island, alone.

You may be forced out of what you have known for so long and this creates uncertainty and confusion like being in a rip tide, lost at sea. 

Wherever you find yourself, it’s no doubt different than where you were and most likely it’s a double edge sword.  

I love what Bharath said in his last post which made me laugh and anytime I can laugh these days I welcome it!

“Times: I’ve changed. Do you like what I’ve become? No. Do I wish to go back? Hell no! Don’t ask too many questions, don’t ask for directions, I am alive and so are you; cross my path, wave at me and I might wave back. I’ve changed”.

I for one have chosen not to do massage at this time which is a big portion of my business currently, even though 42 counties in California allow it indoor with modifications.  I have invested oodles of time and money in a profession that I’m not sure I will want to continue in which is mind boggling, but time will tell how I choose to move forward.

My staff is reluctant to start as well and we have taken a huge financial hit in this arena but we cannot open, even though our pocket books argue.  We will and must listen to our moral compass when we know there will be another wave hitting in winter; even though our competitors are starting back. Money will never be our God, sacrificing integrity over greed.  Instead we have all managed to find ways to shift and be creative while we wait for the storm to pass.  I know of 4 people ( friends of friends)  that have died and 12 that have been injected in various degrees. One was a near death experience where he came back into his body and he is using an inhaler and he is only 42. My heart aches for your losses and my heart holds yours while you grieve. 

We are rewarded in life by following and listening to our hearts and tapping into our internal resources while lining up with the truth of the Law of Attraction ( basically what we need comes into fruition with intention and follow through).

I’ve been embarking on the venture of Zooming with Clients, blogging and writing which has been incredible in some aspects but has come with a lot of  hiccups, not being computer and tech savvy.  It has changed my relationships with others that are generally up close and personal, tactile with lots of interaction, to one that is more isolating and introspective.

I savor my quiet time but I find that interruptions throw me off kilter where before I was a genius at multitasking and juggling lots of balls.  I have holed away and I find it annoying to be in anyone’s presence that distracts me, primarily because I lose my train of thought.  

I don’t know exactly where I’m going with all of this but I am being led by my intuition even though it makes no sense at the moment.  I do check in with myself to see if I should jump ship and the answer is “No, just keep going”.  We don’t always know what the gifts are in the moment but through time, they make themselves clear. 

My Silver Linings of Covid:

• I’m loving taking pictures, which I’m not that good at but having fun with.  I am featuring other friends and clients photography and art which is so inspiring.
• I am learning some incredible new skills to live in a technological world in which there is no escaping.
• I am able to spend time with my beloved Harry, my 14 year old King Charles Spaniel who is lame before he retires to the rainbow bridge.  
• I trained my once feral cat to adjust to indoor outdoor life and my dog Hunter, not to eat either cat.
• 2 of my adult children have lived with me since moving out in college which has allowed us to redefine our relationship as adults .
• I’ve had some time with my mom and Dad.
• I let the dust and fur stay on the ground and laundry pile up.
• I have saved a ton of money but not going buying gifts and eating out. 
• I’m taking a writers workshop.
• We’ve had a bumper crop of tomatoes and zucchini  this year and I’ve made lots of tomato sauce for winter, which I never have time to do.   
• I’ve made some Youtube videos of my own for classes.
• I’ve enjoyed some great hikes in our hood.
• I’ve discovered some great musicians thanks to my friends’ generosity.
• Getting your comments, reading your masterpieces of poetry, thoughts, pictures etc has been such a gift to me and enriched my life.  It has made me a better writer and person.  I have learned so much culturally and in history that I am embarrassed to say I didn’t know. 
• I have made some amazing new friends on WordPress from all over the world who have even zoomed with me to help me.  Thanks Kumar!

I ASKED SOME FRIENDS TO GIVE ME THEIR SILVER LININGS OF COVID AND ONE SAID “NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY SILVER LINING, COVID SUCKS” 🙁. WHILE THIS IS TRUE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE BLESSINGS SUBTLE AS THEY MAY BE.

Silver Linings from Friends and Family:

• I’ve saved a lot of money living at home with my parents with meals but I’m drowning in anxiety working everyday really hard not making a damn dollar and I don’t see a way out… I want to buy a house.
•  I’m lucky to have my girlfriend at my side steadfast.
• I’ve tapped into my organizational skills and cleaned my whole house.  It eases my anxiety. 
•  I learned that I don’t need to hang dry my jeans and all my workout clothes all over my bathroom and closet because they don’t shrink in the dryer like I  thought for the last 40 years.  
• I like that I don’t have to rake the sand traps when I’m golfing as I visit lots of them😬
• My golf score has never been lower
• I’m living my best Covid life with no commute working online, getting daily exercise and staying a month at a time in different remote spots for free of charge all while in business school online.
• The freeways are not crowded and the air seems cleaner when there’s no smoke and I smell more of the wonders of the land, plants and trees.  
• I’ve explored lots of new recipes in my cookbooks because we aren’t going out to dinner. 
• We’ve enjoyed supporting many musicians for our Instagram shows and they are so appreciative for the support as they’ve had no opportunities to perform for six months. 
• I’ve done more hiking in our beautiful area and feel blessed to enjoy the beauty all around us. 
• I am trying to appreciate a slower life with more time to contemplate myself and the world around me.  I am also working on becoming more aware of discrimination and racism in this country, including examinations of my own shortfalls. 
• My discovery of how important it is to get outside each day to exercise. There have been periods of time that I did not get outside for any length of time for weeks or months!
•  Life actually slowed down!
• we will have had 2 kids living with us for extended periods of time. Family time!!!!
• taking over 30 online classes on various topics. 
• learning how to Zoom to connect. 
• less traffic. 
• love being home!!!
• playing piano
• My hockey net
• YouTube Music
• Poetry
• I am appreciative of what my mom has done for us for years. The way she cooks food inspite of being tired so I try to help her with chores some days.

So what about you?  What is your Silver Lining of Covid?  

Anything special you are learning about yourself?

As always, thanks so much for reading, liking ( if you do, commenting and or sharing).  I am so grateful for your continued support truly!

Blessings and love while we light our path on our journey’s,

❤️🙏

Cindy

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