I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a crazy year! Now that we have conquered 2020, I urge you to take some time and look back on this past year...
Many of us came across some difficult times and hardships, no doubt about that! I was unable to work for 3 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As much as I would have loved to make some real money during that time, it did give me a lot of time to really look at my life. I'm not going to say I hated the way my life was...I made it that way, but it was exhausting.
I worked. A LOT. Sometimes when I would leave at 9pm and look at my schedule to show my first client was at 8am the next day, I would often say to myself: "I should just sleep here tonight". Now, don't get my wrong, I absolutely LOVE the work I do -- helping clients with injuries, pain and other dysfunctions is very rewarding. However, it does get exhausting after too many long days. I found myself 'just trying to survive'.
My unplanned 3-month vacation allowed me lots of time to think and seriously look at how my life was and where I want it to be. I wanted to actually live life, rather than constantly be concerned with the amount of money I was bringing in and number of clients I could see in a day.
We all have busy seasons in our lives, but when its go-go-go, all the time, it's just not fun! There's nothing wrong with zeroing in on a goal for a couple months and working hard for that short period of time, but when it extends to ALL DAY, EVERY WEEK, EACH MONTH, YEAR AFTER YEAR, something has to give. Some people find this chronic stress to show up in illness, others could have issues with concentration or decreased ambition, maybe someone might have uncontrollable cravings, or any other crazy signs.
For me, I had slight twinge of depression mixed into decreased ambition, forgetfulness and lack of enthusiasm for life. I just lived day to day, doing whatever I had to to get through the day. I came home from work, and 90% of the days, wanted to do nothing.
I truly believe, no matter how negatively COVID-19 has impacted your finances, family or health; I'm sure there is something positive you can find in it. I personally am grateful for:
- time to sit down and focus where my business is headed
- ability to slow down and get back to nature
- time to visit and connect with an amazing man -- who's now my boyfriend!
- time to purge junk and deep clean the house
- ability to stay home and not feel guilty (where's my introverts at!?)
- ability to make some healthy and delicious meals
- spend more quality bonding time with my animals
- the chance to catch up on SOOOOO many emails that I have skipped past and told myself "I'll go back to that when I have time"
- time to grow an amazing vegetable garden!
- relaxing mornings to drink my coffee
Positive experiences with covid doesn't have to be anything HUGE or life-changing. It can be as simple as you learned you enjoyed working from home, you suddenly had time to walk for 20 mins each day, you got day-drunk with your significant other and had a dance party for no reason, you ordered some killer Thai food from a restaurant you had never tried.
CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS! Those small things eventually add up to something much larger and fantastic!
Cheers to 2020, and I can't wait for what's in store for 2021!
xoxo, Amy
