April 3--Toughen Up

     What does not destroy me makes me stronger. --Friedrich Nietzsche

     I'm a person who likes to have something to look forward to, for instance, a trip or special event. I like to travel so much that I usually have at least one big trip on the horizon. This year it's a trip to Spain and Portugal scheduled for September. We shall see if that actually happens.
     I was pondering the stay-at-home gig last evening, and realized that this is a time when it is especially easy to be wishing our lives away. We want to leap into the future where the virus is no longer a threat, and we can go back to in-person fun with family and friends. The kids will be back in school, and things will be back to normal, albeit a new normal.
     There is, however, much to be gained from living fully present through this time. It will not destroy us--humans are nothing if not resilient. Since it will not destroy us, it will make us stronger, if we can stay present within our own lives, getting in touch with the gifts this time on the planet has to offer.
     Those gifts are many:

• Enforced slow-down: Instead of having every moment planned and filled, we have the opportunity to consider how we choose to use our time.
• How's it going: It appears to me that folks are contacting family and friends more via social media, phone calls, etc. 
• Have-to vs. get-to: To-do lists can be more relaxed as we have the time to get stuff done.
• Big relief: For the introverts among us: we get to stay home guilt-free, yippeeeeeeeeee!
• Kindness: People are being kinder to each other, appreciating interactions and service more, knowing that we are all in the same boat and we want to stay afloat. 
• Simple pleasures: I believe we are paying more attention to things like sunshine, rain, birdsong, flowers, the emerald green of new spring grass, and so on.
• New skills: There is a lot of learning going on, about how to live differently and successfully in this environment. Folks are taking the time to learn a long-desired new skill, aided by the infinite resources available to us online.
• Pets: I think we are gaining even more appreciation for the loving companionship our dogs, cats, etc. provide us. 
• Movement: We are finding new ways to keep moving, and recognizing the value of that. 
• Less is more: We have the opportunity to release unnecessary stuff, and to recognize how little we truly need. 
• Creativity is blossoming!

Life is good, here and now.
         Leta