Defining uncertainty

If you aren't aware, we are living in a worldwide pandemic. Yes. We are. That is our present reality. We are being asked to hole up in our homes and #stayhome, work from new places, educate our children in new ways, and question every interaction we have. We are being asked to slow down and face a new reality of social distancing and uncertainty each and every day; the axiom to take things "a day at a time" rings more true than ever as each day presents us with new challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities for growth. This is especially difficult this weekend, because we are walking into Easter, a time that families and communities usually come together to celebrate. With that in mind, I wanted to share some things that are bringing me joy and hope right now. These are people, podcasts, videos, and voices that offer me inspiration, hope, and joy when I am feeling heavy with the weight of uncertainty.

Lori Harder and her podcast Earn Your Happy has been changing my life! https://www.loriharder.com/

She has created a 30 day challenge to encourage people to stay active, stimulate their minds, and find inspiration. She is also sharing great insights and wisdom on her podcast throughout the week that help boost my energy and re-frame the difficult situations that I am facing.

Eric Zimmer and his podcast The One You Feed has always been one of my favorite things to listen to, but his insight and wisdom is even more grounding and essential for me right now! https://www.oneyoufeed.net/

He is producing great content with inspiring conversations around how we cultivate the good in our lives! Further, he is hosting weekly zoom calls and coaching sessions to help people navigate through the muck.

On Instagram, Hannah Brown and her friend Elyse Murphy are doing nightly devotionals leading into Easter Sunday! They are honest, humble, funny, and joy filled. Tuning into those discussions each evening has been life giving. Even though Easter is almost here, they may come up with a way to extend the conversation into the future and both share great content!

Then lastly, if you have not already heard about John Krasinski's "Some Good News," it is most definitely worth a watch! They have literally made me laugh out loud and cry.

While these are scary and uncertain times, there is so much joy to be found. We just have to pay attention and continue to show up.

As I have been reflecting on my own life, and listening to the people around me, I have decided that I am gong to start going live on Instagram each night this week myself. Most of the people mentioned above, and others I hear producing content and insights, represent people with large platforms already developed and are married or living with family. I am 23 years old, living alone for the first time, and am navigating trying to figure out my career and future during the craziness that is COVID-19. I am not alone in this predicament, but it is one that I do not hear being discussed very much. There are tons of single men and women who are struggling to find their strength right now and figure out who and what they are going to be. This brings its own stress, fears, and challenges during this pandemic. While I am no expert, I hope to begin a conversation around ways that we can lean into building our best selves, cultivate joy, and navigate through this weird and uncertain time, defining this uncertainty for ourselves in a way that gives each of us life. I know that this weekend may be really difficult for many people. I hope you know that you are not alone in feelings of sadness, frustration, fear, and loneliness. Be gentle with yourself, and honor how you are feeling. We will make it through this season, one day at a time.

Spring

Spring has arrived! Today marks the 5th day of the new season! When I open my windows and doors, I can hear the sounds of the birds cooing, smell the freshness of the air, and see the trees beginning to fill with buds. Fourteen baby ducks have recently taken up residence at my local pond, exploring this new world with adorable excitement. It is a time for renewal and hope, creation and birth...

How odd a season this is in the middle of all the craziness we are facing. Spring is a time the world comes alive, but it feels like ours is shutting down and closing up; It feels like we are in the throws of a brutal winter rather than at the doorstep of a blossoming spring.

But, in many ways, this is a new beginning. A re-write. A fresh start. We are being asked to see the world as infants do, learning constantly, and taking each moment as it comes. There are no givens in a moment like this. Life is being re-written around us. We, like the baby ducks, are learning what it looks like to swim. We are learning how to take our first steps into a new reality.

I know for me this Spring brings a lot of newness into my life, and I am offered a unique opportunity to embrace it fully, taking each moment as a novel, new, and beautiful invitation. Instead of focusing on the future, like I tend to do, I am being asked to sit in this moment, this day, and this present reality and soak up all the world is offering.

Here are some of the major happenings for me this Spring season:

1. I am about to be an Aunt to a precious baby boy! (He will literally born into this world in less than 24 hours; a perfect example of Spring. As my sister would say: "It is baby time!")

2. I graduate with my Masters in May!

3. I just moved into a new apartment and am creating my own space and navigating a new season of #adulting

4. I am working on recovering from past wounds and finding healthy relationships that are rooted in the best parts of who I am and who I want to be

5. I am showing up, staying in, and learning with everyone else what this new reality will look like, while trying to combat fear and trust in something bigger than myself

What are some of the major happenings in your life this Spring? What are you being invited into? How are you leaning into the present moment and taking this season day by day?

Reflections

Fear

floats around our collective hearts and minds

Invisible

Like the virus that plaues us

Eating at our sanity

Isolating us further from those

We so desperately need in this moment

Shut down

Locked out

Locked in

A new normal constructing itself around us

As we scramble to play the right hand

with new cards being dealt rapidly.

To keep up with the ever-changing script and rules

And play our parts right;

To feel sane

In a world that is beyond our control

This is a novel season

A pivotal moment

Where we, yes, we, are asked

To reevaluate who and what we are

Who and what we want to be,

And what really matters

In this unpredictable and wild thing called life

Yes, we must be diligent in protecting the health of our people

Yes, we must be uncomfortable for a while

Yes, it can be scary and uncertain

Yes

But there is more we are asked to do in this moment

Then to sit and mope, waiting for this to pass

History is unfolding around us

Normal is shape-shifting and taking on a new definition

The world is turning

And we are asked to turn with it

We are being asked to turn and dig deeper

To dig deeper into ourselves

To strip away the titles

The fame, the job, the money,

None of that matters now

It might buy some a little more time

Or better medical equipment

But it does not keep away

The fear

It does not keep away

Dis-ease

It does not stop

The world from turning

Who do you want to be in this new and novel moment?

How will you respond and interact with the world today?

We can’t control it, but we can control how we respond

We do not have to be overwhelmed by fear

Or paralyzed by the unknown

Play your cards with creativity and hope

Write your own freaking script

and help others claim their authentic part in the story

Choose sanity over insanity

Again and again

In every moment

Let us all dig in

and see ourselves

Fully

Without all the masks we wear

For the first time

In this crazy and wild thing called life

Let us wake up to our truest selves

And rise above the fear

That wants so desperately to keep us paralyzed

And locked in,

not physically,

but emotionally and spiritually

Yes, we may be physically asked to isolate and close off,

But that does not have to translate into

Closing off from ourselves or others

Let us rise above the scripts of fear and anxiety,

and write a beautiful new story

Of hope, peace, redemption, and courage

we are co-creating history

what story do we want to tell?