Quarantined Thoughts

I’m hungry. 

No wait, I’m thirsty. 

Nope, nope, I’m definitely hungry. 

Should I bake another cake? 

When was the last time I washed these pants?  

Should I put on a bra today? 

I wonder what my co-workers would do if I joined the zoom call in my bonnet and with my glasses on? 

What day is it? 

How long have I been asleep? 

Should I take another nap? 

Is DJ D–nice spinning tonight? Club Quarantine is real. 

You probably have similar questions because let’s face it- this quarantine is taking us out of our character. As someone who enjoys her own company and recharges by being alone, this is still wearing me out. My battery is so full that I’m out here running miles like I am training for a marathon. My waist thanks me but my knees, on the other hand, are wondering what they did to deserve this. 

My emotions have ranged from high to low, but one thing has remained constant – my appetite! I’m not reading as many books as I normally do, yet I’m not watching much TV. Somehow, the days fly by and I look back as if to say, “what did I do today?” I ate food.  

All jokes aside, I do want to come out of this stronger. I don’t want to look back and have regret about what I did or didn’t do. I also don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on myself.  

Maybe you feel similarly? Perhaps you have realized that you have some major wins, but you also have a few “I-wish-I-could-have-done-that-better” situations. Your house may be a mess, but your children are alive and well-fed. Your laundry may need to be done and you can’t remember if you brushed your teeth this morning, but you made it through your third conference call without going off on Susan. You haven’t worked out in over a week, but you did shower every day and finally do your hair. You still have a long to-do list at work but you made it a whole hour without scrolling aimlessly through Instagram. You, my friend, are winning! 

Everything during this time won’t be perfect. Everything won’t go as planned and you may not come out skinnier or more creative. The goal is to come out mentally and physically healthy. In the process of achieving that level of health, you’ll hopefully learn more about who you are, what you like and what is essential to your life. 

This is not a time to beat yourself up. However, it is a time to adopt a heart of gratitude and love thy neighbor. Thank God for whatever you have because there is always someone in a situation worse than yours. Love your neighbor by sending that “you good?” text to check in on a friend. You could be the only thing that brings a much-needed smile to someone else’s face. That love could also look like staying in the house and keeping your germs, no matter how minimal, to yourself.  

As we continue to work through this, know that I am rooting for you to win. I hope you reconnect with friends and loved ones and feel connected even without the physical connection. I’m also praying that you learn to give yourself grace and prioritize what really matters. 

Sending you a virtual hug and a reminder to not try to cut your own hair.