What Have You Missed?
What Have You Missed?
Connection: We have been physically distancing, physical separation, self-isolation, so many different terms. Which one have you chosen to speak? I have been physically distancing for 16 months now. For me, the first seven weeks were okay. I am at the age and stage in my life where being at home is comfortable. I am married; fortunately, I was able to be in my home with my husband. I also have a home business. Physical distancing gave me the opportunity to connect online with people from all over the world. These are wonderful connections and amazing ways to find others who feel, think and believe similar to me, has been gratifying.
I woke up on a Thursday morning in the seventh week of physical distancing, desperately needing to hug my son, typically that would have been a real possibility, he only lives three hours away. To hug my dad and brother, they live fifteen minutes away. My daughter is twelve hours away, so that desire was less needed, as I am comfortable to only have hugs from her one or two times a year. I wanted to be with my friends and have the freedom and safety to do so.
My waking words on that Thursday were; I want to hug my son, I want to see my dad, I want to spend time with my friends, I want to see my brother, I want to go to a greenhouse. These words started to create anger within me. In that moment, I said STOP. I choose not to start my day with anger and needs. I started to do affirmations. At the time, they did not seem real; however, my body and mind felt so much better.
Affirmations: I am hugging my son. I am seeing my dad. I have spent time with my brother and my friends. I have been to a greenhouse. I love spring, and being amongst flowers and greenery is so healing for me. I went to the greenhouse the next day, wore a mask and gloves. I enjoyed the process of choosing annual flowers that I could plant around my house. It was a wonderful outing, and I felt safe.
Freedom: I miss the freedom to travel wherever I choose. The freedom to decide where and who I want to visit. The freedom to walk anywhere, drive to a store and just browse. To eat at a restaurant or go for tea with a friend. To experience the freedom of going into a grocery store and taking time to decide what items I desire outside of a list.
Safety: Not sure if visiting with people will put them at risk along with yourself. What is safe? How long do we stay home? What do we do when we go out? When we come back together, physical distancing is required. For the first time in two months, I visited a friend and felt safe. How does one physical distance at the hairdresser? I will find that out in three weeks. Wearing a mask; who will wear the mask. Me and the hairdresser? How will she wash, cut and comb my hair with a mask around my ears? I am okay with whatever process.
I look forward to finding out. I choose to be supportive, loving and confident; all will be done for the best outcome.
Unknown: Is what we hear on the news, social media or friends accurate? Living in fear of the “what if” decreases our immune system and its’ ability to naturally fight off disease. In times of fear, connect to your intuition or knowing for the answer. In all situations of the unknown, stop for a moment and ask yourself; How am I feeling? Am I okay? Am I safe? Do I need to change what I’m doing right now? Stopping in those moments gives us time to just be. Just be still, observant and open to learning.
Moving Forward: Our communities and cities are beginning to open. Businesses are opening their doors and welcoming customers. Believe that all is okay, and all will be okay. It is knowing that you are protected. Knowing that your immune system is healthy and knows what to do when it comes into contact with viruses. Being with people is healthy and is essential to physical and mental wellbeing. As humans in our physical form, it is essential to have physical connectedness, without it, we die.
Let’s be respectful of other people’s space. Know that all people do not feel the same way. Let’s honour them and ourselves. Let’s love unconditionally, have compassion for those who don’t understand our personal distancing. Let’s be in a place of peace and humility.
I’m okay with whatever the universe has for me. My life path is unknown to me. I cannot control its outcome. What I can control is my thinking right now, my actions and reactions right now.
