365 days

Image Courtesy @theillustratedshelf

A year ago, I was wrapping up my duties at work and learning news of a growing pandemic. Days later I was instructed not to return to work until further notice. Excited I drove home thinking about sleeping in the next day and catching up on chores.

The world as I knew it had froze. No demands on life, no Friday night turn ups, and no busy highways. My weekly routine shifted drastically and suddenly there was no need to do any of the things I was accustomed to doing. My weekly manicure appointments weren't as important anymore. Wearing heels and dresses turned into sneakers and sweats. Running errands became daunting excursions to buy hard to find essentials.

I was left to process all the uncertainty with many hours spent feeling all these new emotions while trying to adjust. My values changed and life took on new meaning for me. I spent my months of quarantine alone and frequently with my friend. Family time and simple activities became so joyous. I challenged myself to continue staying busy with projects while developing new hobbies. I was use to being on the go that I felt this pressure to utilize this time to the maximum.

However, that was never the intended focus for me, it was really for me to slow down, enjoy life, and appreciate the people I have around me. 365 days later I am filled with gratitude for the time I had to realize what life has to offer. I had been so busy managing the outside world that I neglected to learn the most important thing…… ME!