My daughter, Kelsey, posted this on social media this afternoon:
This photo feels like it was from another lifetime. In a time where I had just left my job to start my business, we were fresh newlyweds and finally had a break away from it all. The world was our oyster. We spent our honeymoon camped in this truck for a week on Kauai, with nothing but swim suits, nappy hair and sunburnt kisses. We had no plan, but the plan was to be present - in the moment, to each other and to the beautiful land around us. And oh, were we free.
Fast forward just 10 months, and we have been through the aftermath of another major crash from Jack, have become homeowners, and this headband in the photo is now my face mask for protection from the spread of disease. We are now in the midst of The Great Pause with nothing to do but stay inside and dream of a better world that we can explore again.
And that freedom we once had? We will never take it for granted again.
[Photo from 06.06.2019]
I love this for so many reasons. First off, that photo - I mean, c’mon. Are they cute honeymooners or what!? But I also love how my sweet girl, while looking like a happy-go-lucky hippie chick, profoundly expresses herself about this difficult time in which we all find ourselves.
Life can be a roller coaster - a dangerous one with reckless turns and harsh plunges. And these two have had more than their share lately. I’ve had seasons in my life that have been full of challenges as well. Other family members have faced some unimaginably hard times. But we have learned and continue to learn, that hard days build strength and character. As Elizabeth Gilbert said, “The women I love and admire for their strength and grace did not get that way because shit worked out. They got that way because shit went wrong, and they handled it. They handled it in a thousand different ways on a thousand different days, but they handled it.”
But these days are unique in that they are tough for SO many all at once. We all seem to be on this crazy rollercoaster together. Clearly, the ride for some is much scarier than for others. But I’m pretty sure we’re all ready for the ride to end already. Meanwhile, we find ourselves “in the midst of The Great Pause” - glued to our seats on this nasty germ-ridden rollercoaster. What an image, right?
The question is, what to do with this pause? Certainly, spending some time dreaming of a better world, as Kelsey suggests, is a great idea. But what else? Some days, I can be super productive. Others, find me mopey and glued to the couch. Each day, however, I do my best to try to spend some time spreading positivity and showing gratitude. For me, that’s usually done through creativity.
When I can take even a few minutes to scribble a haiku, draw a Zentangle tile or even look for something new and beautiful to photograph on my walk, it can turn my day around. And while most of us are spending this time with very few people around us (or perhaps alone), wouldn’t a more cheerful attitude help us all get along better? So, the next time you find yourself getting anxious, bored or grief-stricken - ALL normal feelings right now (and actually they are always normal feelings), I encourage you to find some way to be creative. Even if that doesn’t come naturally to you, you might be surprised how much it can help. If you need help finding creative outlets, HerCreativeCollective.com has ideas for you. And if you still find yourself glued to the couch, think of three things you are grateful for. For me, that always helps loosen that glue.
My prayer for all of us is that we come out of this stronger and more full of grace, and that the world will be filled with signs of the creativity that helped us all get through it. And, as Kelsey said, that we never take for granted the freedoms we are longing for now - to explore the world, gather with one another and hug our loved ones.
