thriving and surviving.

Sometimes this feels like the never ending dream…everything looks perfectly normal, but in the blink of an eye, you could be completely knocked on your ass by this virus. It’s been a very interesting couple of weeks, and the next month or so will really test the strength and patience of the nation, as we continue to distance ourselves from each other.

As challenging as this seems, I’m focusing on the bright side of the situation. I consider myself a spiritual person, so my faith has been a strong source of comfort. It’s also been a time to focus on keeping my mind in as happy a place as possible, and finding new and creative ways to do so.

One of the things I’ve never enjoyed is practicing…I did it, but it always felt tedious and my mind would wander very easily. Because I have no idea of when I’ll have my next gig, I’m taking time each day to practice a different instrument, including my voice. Sometimes it’s something as simple as playing/singing scales, and some days I’m working on my jazz improvisation. At 50 years old, I love doing this, as I now have an appreciation of the music that I’m learning and performing – an outlook that I didn’t have when I was younger.

As the gym is closed indefinitely, I’ve been doing a lot more walking as a form of exercise…even with the challenge of social distancing, I’ve developed an appreciation for the joy of having that 60-90 minutes of quiet time and self reflection. Plus there’s that feeling of accomplishment of running a certain distance and not puking or passing out…three cheers for progress!

It’s very easy to become anxious thinking about the next month or so of isolation…..one of the things that therapy has taught me is to not focus on the things I cannot control. Yes, it’s a pain in the ass spending the majority of the time indoors, especially as the weather is getting nicer. That’s one of the reasons I’m challenging myself now more than ever….it’s an opportunity to grow spiritually and mentally, and in some ways, this is a gift. When this pandemic is over and done, hopefully we’ll all be able to recognize the changes we have made for the better, both individually and for our society.

Let’s keep on thriving and surviving.