I can't decide if this is tacky or not (the silver lining remix)

[lunabee34]

I am hoping to take this time of quarantine/social distancing to make changes in my life and reinforce changes I'd already made.

I have been outside more in the last week than I have since last summer. I am really enjoying reconnecting to nature. When Fiona and I go on our nature walks, I'm being really intentional about observing the world around us, and I think it's helping me to be calm and not so anxious.

I am feeling closer (but not too close yet LOL though I'm sure that's coming) to my family and enjoying the opportunity to talk to them all more.

I am reading and writing more.

I am enjoying the challenge of figuring out how to do things in our learning management system that I didn't know how to do before and that I will be able to carry over into my teaching in the future. I am enjoying helping Josh figure out how to get his classes online and being a contact for colleagues who haven't taught online before to help them make the transition.

I am enjoying keeping my house cleaner and neater than I usually do when we are all at work and school for such a long portion of the day.

I am also feeling physically better for being at home. My fatigue has been noticeably less in this week at home than when I'm working (although the pain I've been experiencing is about the same).

I feel really anxious right now, especially due to the ambiguous nature of this situation and not knowing when or how things will progress or change, and focusing on these positives is helping me to get through. I know that my ability to do so is a reflection of my privilege; my husband and I are not losing any income during this crisis, for example, and it's so much easier to be positive in our situation.

Comments

[lunabee34]

*nods nods*

I tend to be the kind of person who is gloomy and negative and the glass is half empty if I don't force myself to look for positives and things to be grateful about.

[amejisuto]

It's hard to change that about yourself, so you're doing good. If you weren't a bit anxious I'd be worried about you.

[lunabee34]

*nods nods*

My husband is not going to handle this well. He's the kind of person that needs to leave the house a lot; he gets really antsy. I'm a little worried about how he's going to handle everything. Part of focusing on these positives is that I know we can't both be going aaaaaah at the same time. LOL

[kore]

LOLOLOL that is also my husband. He LOATHES being confined and told he can't go places (this made his hospital stays during cardiac events really fun!). He is taking the coronavirus threat very seriously, though. But I'm still worried about him going stir crazy.

[lunabee34]

T and Josh sound like two peas in a pod. Emma is out of a RX so he gets to go to CVS today; hurrah! LOL

We talked a little last night about what he can do, and I think he's going to try exercising and doing outside projects to try to help him. I know outside projects are not really an option for y'all, though.

[kore]

Yeah, his idea of heaven is taking LONG (like 3-4 hour) walks or hikes around the city taking photos. (Why he is married to me, I do not know. Hiking, ugh.) The downturn in his mental health is really obvious if he can't get in at least one good walk a day. He really loves urban cityscapes and he's a real outdoors person. (Outdoors: highly overrated. Too much sun, too many bugs, way too many chatty people.)

[lunabee34]

I used to be much less of an outdoors person, but I am coming around (or at least trying to make myself LOL). I genuinely feel better when I go outside and look at nature and feel the sunshine than when I don't, so I'm trying to take advantage of the spring before it turns a million degrees.

[amejisuto]

You can always send him out to hunt toilet paper down if he gets too squirrely. LOL. And yeah, it's good that you're taking turns freaking out.

[lunabee34]

He did have to go out today, and Wal-Mart had toilet paper! It felt like a victory.

[amejisuto]

I hope you have him a reward or something. Finding toilet paper these days is life finding gold in a stream!

[lunabee34]

Heeee.

He felt adequately compensated.

*winks*