What I’m leaving quarantine with

Though there is no doubt that what the world is collectively going through is horrible and grief provoking, we can’t deny the positive that has come out of this global pandemic. There are the obvious silver linings, like how it has been a healing time for the environment and many families are spending more time together, but I know that for a lot of people it has also been an everyday struggle (including myself).

Throughout this whole period of social distancing and staying at home, I’ve had a hard time balancing gratitude for what this break has allowed me to do, with sympathy over what’s happening. It’s hard to feel grateful when the real causes of this free time are so terrible. But, I’ve slowly found that we can feel both at the same time, and can still honor those who have it worse by finding the good in this situation, and helping however we personally can.

Yesterday marked 60 days of my own personal social distancing. Our ‘stay at home’ order in Minnesota started shortly after I decided to stay home on my own. Now Italy and other European countries are slowly coming out of their own lockdowns, their hospitals are emptying, and I’m feeling hopeful for a near end to this horror. Though it doesn’t mean we will return to life as we knew it, at least we have a new normal to look forward to with more freedoms than we’ve had in months.

I think one of the biggest struggles for me has been feeling like I’m wasting valuable time in what could be considered the prime time of my life (doesn’t everyone say that about their 20’s? I have a feeling every decade could be considered ‘prime’ though if you really wanted them to). Anyways, I wrote the following on Instagram (and shared in my post on The Power of a Pause) while reflecting on this:

it’s hard not to feel like we’re wasting valuable precious time right now, but it’s out of our control and for a lot of us, we are just lucky to be healthy at home. I’d like to believe I can survive this time okay because I’ve devoted myself to creating beauty every day, even if the days are ordinary or without a lot to do. maybe after this we will all see the value of making every day artful, special, celebratory for any or no reason, and find the absolute best moments in the ordinary. the small victories, the pauses, daily rituals, the moments in between where life is lived and real emotions are felt, are all that matter. especially now. so have that second espresso and observe the world out your window, or open that bottle that’s been sitting in the cellar and light some candles with dinner as if it’s a special night, because it is.

What I’ve also realized is that this time has afforded me opportunities I never would have had if normal life had just continued, without a worldwide pause. Not going out has allowed me to save money, and I’ve used some of this time to be productive (when I didn’t feel like crawling in bed and crying).

I’ve been able to really focus on my blog for the first time since I started it two years ago, and I’ve harbored new creative skills that I never would have had time for. I fell in love with using oil pastels again, and invested in a new sketchbook just for me, for the first time since college. I started practicing yoga again and now I crave it almost every day. My family eats dinner together more often, which is a big deal especially for my dad to join us because he’s usually stuck at work. We have connected better with relatives across the country, because for now Zoom connections are the status quo.

So my question is, what are your silver linings? What beauty have you found out of the horror? What are you taking out of this quarantine and holding close? A less busy schedule, a new hobby, regular calls with your family…share them on Instagram with my template below.

Just click and hold the image to save it to your camera roll, then upload to your Instagram story and add text.

These are mine:

• Yoga
• Renewed love of reading
• Oil pastels
• Cooking for my family
• Long walks or bike rides every day
• Picnics in the park
• Phone calls with long distance friends
• New morning routine
• Allowing myself to express creativity through art
• Writing more
• Regular blog posts
• An even greater appreciation of travel
• More make-up free days
• Sending mail
• Remembering what’s important: health, family, love…