What the Health?

I have yet to meet anyone that says 2020 was the best year ever. I will say that though it was the hardest year collectively, there have been many bright spots amidst the challenges. When our world came crashing to a halt, we have been reminded to slow down. Priorities have shifted. Values evaluated. And we are all hopefully the better for it. 

But I can't lie that the novelty of sourdough bread, sweatpants, and Zoom calls has long worn off. At first it was amusing to be home and working, but then when you add a toddler into that mix, you are basically juggling coffee with a side of Blippi. The bubble machine and plethora of plastic toys can only keep interest for a 2-year old for so long. Add masks, social distancing, and the anxiety of it all, it truly becomes a recipe for a hot mess. 

And though I have had the chance to "see" a few people here and there, I crave conversation and connection. My weekly trips to the grocery store in which I talk a bit longer with the checkout clerk is just not enough. It wasn't until the calendar turned with the glimmer of hope in a new year in 2021 that I realized a new year is not the magic reset button. Instead, a pandemic coupled with a controversial election, I found myself awake at all hours. And as I was missing the connection with people, reeling with the uncertainty of the future, and trying to navigate the daily challenges, that I started to feel the weight of the world. My mind started to wander into despair, so much so that I have been to the doctor for a battery of tests from CT scans of my head, every blood test under the sun, and revisiting all of my health history to ensure that cancer has not reared its ugly head again. The pain in my chest, the constant headaches, the added pounds, and the extreme fatigue has taken its toll. 

So with that, I want to flip the script. I have had this yearning that there is more. We were not made to live isolated. And as a working mom, wanting to be the best version of herself, but also keeping the train on its tracks, I am giving myself permission to make a few extra stops along the way. At each stop, perhaps it is to rest, but maybe it is also to gather a few extra passengers. I have recently committed to a health and wellness journey that I want to share with others to hopefully provide help and support, but also to offer a connection. I want to create a space where everyone feels welcome, supported, heard, and loved. Let's make the plans to meet up (safely). Let's schedule the time to share our favorite things. Can we find ways to help carry each other's burdens? Can we find ways to enjoy company? Create things? Cook together? How can we celebrate in successes? What can we do to support each other better? I am committed that in this journey, we start to build a new kind of community where everyone has a place, belongs, and matters. 

Cheers to the new journey as we learn together! First up in my journey: self-care.