here we are for another new blog post; week 22 to be exact. it still blows my mind thinking that i have been so consistent with it because each week has not always been the easiest. even more so because the time we are living in has definitely shifted from what we are used to. this meant that i was continuing to build a new habit while adjusting to a new way of living. in this period, and especially within this past week though i have been practicing being okay with slowing down. constantly reminding myself that it is necessary to slow down, and unnecessary to feel guilty about it.

last week i really struggled with this as i shared in my blog post. i was overwhelmed by the lack of motivation and hated that i wasn’t as productive as i wanted, but here is the thing, my body and mind needed it. it was my body and mind’s way of saying hey, i need a break. i need to rest. why are we even in a hurry? what are we rushing towards and for?

we don’t need to be in such a hurry because we are exactly where we are meant to be.

i think that is probably one of the biggest take-a-ways from quarantine; really embracing the present. because of quarentine people were able to rest, do projects that were always put on the back burner, more families were able to spent quality time with one another. people were able to just be. now, i often hear people taking about wanting to go back to normal and while i get where people are coming from; wanting to be able to do the things they love; spending time with family and friends, traveling, attending sporting events and concerts (oh honey i am right there with you) life will not go back to the way it was. it’s not meant to. life as we knew it is not the same life as is, or even will be to come. this season in quarantine has taught us so much and i pray we don’t forget all of the reminders and lessons we have received from it. i pray we keep holding dear to all that we learned in quarantine. i pray we continue to value our time with our loved ones. i pray we continue to support our local businesses. i pray we remember to slow down. i pray that companies continue to care for the health of their employees and costumers (not just psychically, but also mentally). there has been so much good that i could not begin to imagine going back from. may we continue to improve the so called norm and to always be evolving in everything we do. that goes for other things too that are and have also been apart of our norm for decades. no more political games, and no more racism. more kind hearts and more love.

i think that is why over these last couple weeks as work is slowly getting back to full time i feel overwhelmed. finally when i started getting used to a peaceful productive and practicing being okay with rest i was practically flung back into an old reality that i don’t want to go back to. thing is it so easily consuming. it’s easy to get back in the mindset of more, more, more. now, obviously it is up to me to and each of us how we let the season we are in effect us, but it is hard, no doubt. we are headed towards a new season though, whether we are ready are not, and while this past one of quarantine may not have been the greatest, let us carry with us the valuable take aways. further let us embrace the new norm; never losing sight of a greater good and continuing to pursue a life that is beautiful and holy.

“and this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless” - philippians 1:9-10