The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Have you been feeling any more hopeful recently? My online therapy private practice is based out of Flower Mound, Texas, and as I write this, the state of Texas is slowly reopening after weeks of being under a stay-at-home order. I’m hopeful that things will move in a positive direction for all of us, both personally and professionally, as Texas and many other states and countries slowly reopen. That being said, I’m taking things slowly too- still wearing a mask when I need to go out in public, still social distancing, still ordering in food, still purchasing items off the internet, etc. But that feeling of hope, a feeling that’s been missing these last six weeks, that feeling has finally returned.
Here’s what’s been on my mind as we look towards the future…
There are things I’ll miss about the stay-at-home order:
- Family togetherness- we have all generally been getting along and been enjoying each other’s company (for the most part, as we do have teens and preteens in the house).
- Sleeping in- I can’t remember the last time I was so well rested for weeks at a time!
- The slower, more relaxed pace of life (and less driving!)- Yes, there’s definitely some monotony day-after-day, but there’s also an overall sense of calm too.
- More time for self-care- I still do my normal morning self-care (exercise, meditation and journaling, for those of you who are interested), but I’ve also had time for some afternoon self-care as well such as reading.
- Cooking healthy meals together- it’s been fun (and quite messy!) being in the kitchen all together.
- Catching up on shows- my Netflix list is slowly shrinking, how about yours?
- Online learning- I’ve been taking some great Perinatal Mental Health trainings though Postpartum Support International (PSI).
- Completing house projects- I’m not sure our house has ever looked so good or so organized!
- Exercising together- we usually rely heavily on our kids’ chosen sports to keep them in shape, but it’s been (mostly) fun motivating each other in the exercise department as well.
- Having time to emotionally connect with family members, and getting to see the creative ways they are using their downtime (and it’s surprisingly not all online focused!).
*What will you miss about the stay-at-home order?
More things on my mind as we look towards the future…
Things I definitely won’t miss about the stay-at-home order:
- E-learning- it has been okay for my more introverted child and not so great for my very extroverted one.
- The lack of food and supplies- this reminds me of the six years my family spent living abroad in a 3rd world country when our kids were young.
- The heightened anxiety- especially with how quickly things have sometimes changed in the world from day-to-day.
- The loss of everyday life- there isn’t a whole lot that’s felt normal during this time.
- Grief over cancelled future plans- it’s been really difficult cancelling so many plans and not being able to reschedule them.
- The boredom- the days all seem very similar to one another right now.
- The restlessness- I want to go out and do my normal daily activities, but I also want to stay safe and keep my family safe- two opposing sides, for sure!
- The heaviness of it all- there’s so much grief and pain in the world right now.
- The mindless snacking- probably heightened anxiety related, as well as not being able to figure out if this time is a staycation, summer vacation, etc.
- Online everything- work, trainings, video calls with extended family, zoom game nights with friends, binge watching Netflix, etc. My eyes need a break, do yours?
*What will you definitely not miss about the stay-at-home order?
Some final things on my mind as we look towards the future…
Things I’m looking forward to doing in the future:
- Traveling again- after a very expensive spring break ski vacation to nowhere (we flew up, they closed the slopes, we flew home), I’m not sure exactly when I’ll be ready to travel again, but traveling to new places is still one of my favorite things to do.
- Date night out- our last date night out was in February for our 18th wedding anniversary… that seems like SO long ago now.
- Fun activities with the kids- hiking, kayaking, camping, etc. All those outdoor activities that it will soon be too hot in Texas to even things about doing.
- A girls weekend away- so needed!
- Seeing local friends again for coffee, lunch, book club meetings, etc.
- What we want and need being available at the store- online shopping is great, but there are definitely some items I would much rather see in person first before purchasing them.
- Rescheduling appointments- wellness checks at the doctor, dental cleanings, hair cuts (anyone else’s family looking a bit shaggy lately?)
- Kids returning to their normal extracurricular activities, seeing their friends, attending school events, etc.
- Going out in public without fear that I might come in contact with someone who could get me and my loved ones sick.
- Some alone time- when was the last time I was actually alone?
*What are you looking forward to in the future?
I hope some of the items here resonate with you and help normalize how you may be feeling right now. As we try to collectively move forward, it may help to start to look for places where hopefulness is starting to return to parts of your life once again.
