The World Is Changing, Are You Changing With It?

2020 has been a hell of a year!

As I reflect on the entirety of this year, between being quarantined in our homes indefinitely due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the uncertainty of the 46th US presidential election, and the complete transformation of how humans now relate and connect with one another...

I find myself thinking about how incredibly different everything is.  

I have had to acknowledge this year, more than ever: The world is really changing. Drastically. 

Am I changing with it?

2020 has called me to consider, and re-consider, the things I find truly important in life. How I spend my time, What I am allowing to influence me, What I need to nourish myself - emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically.

Things like feeling connected and being in a community, which used to be as easy as grabbing lunch with a friend at my favorite spot in LES, now have to be cultivated through the conscious choices I make every day. 

We are able to make conscious choices only when we take the time to become aware of our wants, needs, and goals. 

As we transition into 2021, let’s take this time to consciously reflect.

Let’s take an honest inventory of all aspects of our lives - the good, the bad, & the ugly.

Let’s identify what needs to be embraced, what needs to change, what needs to be released.

Sometimes such a deep reflection can feel daunting. Remember that change is created one small step at a time. 

For instance, look at the things you do daily, your habits.

Do they align with your goals and aspirations?

If they don’t, identify 3-5 small steps you can take toward bringing yourself closer to those goals.

Then go do them!

Here are some categories I consider as I take inventory:

Financial Health: Celebrate the Abundance

Have my values around material items and money shifted in 2020?

Things I Currently Do:

Things I Can Do:

• Save money by cooking meals at home

• Make a list of all the new opportunities I experienced this year

• Calculate my debt and create a payoff plan

• Give away items I no longer need

Mental Health: Stay connected & Feel Alive

What do I need to feel genuinely connected and inspired?

Things I Currently Do:

Things I Can Do

• Call a friend

• Connect in real life (or via video chat)

• Limit my time on social media and the news channels

• Plug into activities (podcasts, books, seminars) that nourish my curiosity and motivation

Physical Health: Give my body consistent, health-ful nourishment

How can I consistently and sustainably nourish my body?

Things I Currently Do:

Things I Can Do

• Get my heart rate up for 30 mins once a day (did you know, statistically those who move for 30 mins each day are more likely to be in better health than those who work out twice a week?)

• Reduce my sugar intake

• Challenge myself to find healthier versions of naughty snacks - yes I mean chocolate!

• Learn to cook a new one-pot recipe

Spiritual Health: Stay Grounded, Have Grace

What does it mean to practice grace with myself?

Things I Currently Do:

Things I Can Do

• Remind myself to take a deep breath

• Meditate, I recently found Sarah Blondin and I really enjoy her meditation practice

• Take a nap

• Allow myself to feel like I am a part of something larger than myself

How might you use the lessons learned this year to set yourself up for greater fulfillment next year?

It's OK to not be OK

Total Honesty 

Friends, readers, I want to share a moment of total transparency with you.

I have kind of been at a total loss of words. For everything. The past three months have been a complete whirlwind. Entirely uprooting and challenging so many of the things that we are used to, that we took for granted. Going out for a drink with friends, meeting up after work for pizza, organizing with my team at a client’s house. These used to be easy things.

The sudden explosion of this virus across the world, this global pandemic… It has changed everything. We have been called inward, away from one another as we each figure out our own way of battling a virus we don’t all truly understand. A lot of us, resilient as always, turned it into a moment for reflection, introspection, and growth. That has been great.

That doesn’t change the fact that thousands have died and will die from this virus. Especially given the utter incompetence of this American government.

And as if this isn’t enough... there are horrible, brutal real-life manifestations of America's racism completely rocking the nation.

My heart goes out to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other innocent Black women and men who have died, who have been murdered by the police. My heart goes out to each one of their families. My heart goes out to the entire Black community.

I know I can’t imagine what it must be like to constantly see news of your community dying, being murdered, being afraid… To know that this isn’t the first time, to be so familiar with this hurt.

I do know that it hurts me so much to witness it happening. There is so much hurting right now. It feels like every day there's another devastating story of hate, riots, inequality, murders, poor leadership, corruption, lies, division, the list goes on and on.

I feel powerless. I am tired. we are so tired. Of the racism, the murders of innocent Black men, families devastated, communities anxious and on edge, and afraid of the police.

This is such a historic moment unfolding. I can feel that this time period is very significant and will be looked back on, as many points in history are reflected on today. These murderers and hateful instigators must be brought to justice. Hate never wins. How do we want this moment to unfold? How do we want to be remembered? What is my role in this? What is the point of all this?

These are just some of the questions I have been pondering.

Community builds immunity.

What a long 10 days have passed since our first post.  How dramatically and immeasurably our worlds have changed!  The COVID-19 virus is infiltrating our countries, cities, communities; it is touching every walk of life, globally.  

Suddenly, we find ourselves self-quarantining inside our homes, bombarded with an unexpected set of new norms. Who else has been feeling the constant emotional shifts, with the steady influx of new information flooding our systems hour to hour, day to day, moment to moment?

I feel that this is a forced opportunity for us as a collective to slow down, to re-balance and re-evaluate our lives.  It's as if the Universe itself is trying to tell us something on a global scale. How we react to this virus will be, I believe, instrumental to our future. 

During these early days of enforced isolation and social distancing, I’ve found myself thinking deeply about what's important to me; taking a personal inventory and identifying what feels out of balance in my life. We are conditioned to work hard, play hard with mantras like ‘Bigger is Better,’ and ultimately, we end up with a lot of material excess and very little appreciation for the things that matter most. What good is obtaining all the things on your wishlist when you don’t even have space in your heart to appreciate them!

In life, there are many things we can change and yet, there are also many things we cannot. There is a real and tangible fear about our jobs, about the economy, and our collective future. This uncertainty is causing anxiety and panic for many. 

Our new situation calls for physical isolation, but this does not mean that our hearts have to be isolated from friends, family and loved ones. The advent of modern technology allows us to connect effortlessly and seamlessly from the comfort of our couches. Whether you are working from home, taking a virtual coffee break, sipping wine with a friend over video chat, remember that VC technology (Skype, Hangouts Meet, FaceTime) can help restore feelings of connection, shared support, and humanity at times like this.

Please take care of yourselves, stay inside, eat nourishing foods, rest and stay connected with those close to your heart.

With much love - Sue