Cautiously Optimistic

On Monday, the BC government moved to Stage 2 of the BC Restart Plan, meaning that things are improving on the pandemic front. Restrictions are starting to ease, and I am cautiously optimistic.

Back to Normal

Cautiously Optimistic

As excited as I am for restrictions to ease, one thing is for certain: I do NOT want things to go back to normal. Normal was broken, insensitive, uncaring, and stressful.

“We will not go back to normal. Normal never was. Our pre-corona existence was not normal other than we normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion, rage, hoarding, hate and lack. We should not long to return, my friends. We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment. One that fits all of humanity and nature.”

Sonya Renee Taylor

If I don’t want to go back to normal, I have to start envisioning what I want my future to look like, and I better get on that quick. The world is going to move quickly. If we don’t consciously choose how we start coming together again, we’re going to slip back into old habits.

What I Don’t Want

While the pandemic has been stressful in its own way, I don’t want to go back to the level of stress I had before. I was rarely home, between work and church and other commitments.

I don’t really want to go back to work at work full time. The pandemic has shown that I can very effectively do most of my work from home. It is nice to ease into my day.

Writing out what I don’t want is harder than I thought!

What I DO Want

This might be easier as bullet points… I want:

  • The flexibility to work from home – not all the time, but at least one or two days a week, and other times as needed.
  • A slower schedule. Which means I have to be better about setting boundaries around my time!
  • To maintain the healthier lifestyle I have begun. I’ve been eating healthier, and doing yoga twice a week. Now that restrictions are easing, and fitness classes are being allowed with limited attendance, I am going back to deep water aerobics – I am SO excited!
  • Craft time. Cross stitch has been a lifesaver through the pandemic, and even before. I really enjoy seeing beautiful images emerge from a blank canvas of aida cloth. It is also relaxing.
  • Time with my friends, and my Circle. I have missed gathering in person for rituals, or just for tea or a shared meal! There is something special about being in the same heart space with other like minded people.

I’m sure there are many more things I could add to that list. Will you join me for Emerging From the COVID Cocoon? We can envision the future together!

Cautiously Optimistic

The world is starting to feel hopeful again. People are getting out, getting vaccinated, and getting together. I’m excited to create a new normal with my community. Even so, I am cautiously optimistic about the future. There are new variant strains of the virus that could shut everything back down again. It is important for us to move forward slowly, safely, and intentionally.

Blessings,
Mary