And Then the Unthinkable Happened . . .

First off, this is not my usual blog post because it has nothing to do with home decor or interior design. But don't leave!!

In 2020, COVID-19 took over and we began a new way of life.

All of the things we had planned, like vacations, graduations, and weddings would soon be thrown out the window because of this pandemic.

Many people lost their lives, and I don't think we really grasped the severity of what was to come in 2020. Normal day-to-day things like eating out, visiting our kids and grandkids, and of course wearing the face mask were all things we had to get use to in 2020.

Social distancing soon became how we live. I think most people thought this would be over by now . . . but it's not, and it's 2021.

I think 2020 was a year we reflected and learned new things. Things like family is most important, or wearing a mask is not going to kill us if it's going to protect us from this virus. We realized that we took eating out for granted (especially when I don't really cook!), among other things like having family or friends over to our homes, attending church, and any kind of social gatherings.

Now that 2021 is here, we can find JOY in the way we live our lives and navigate around this pandemic. There's no "going back to normal."

And then the unthinkable happened . . .

COVID has hit my home and it's not fun. My husband and daughter tested POSITIVE; however, I tested NEGATIVE but a few days later I started feeling sick.

This was "unthinkable" not because I think I'm invincible (though I did believe that my O-type blood was a superpower), but because I had done all the "right things."

I wore a mask. I stood 6 feet apart. I washed my hands.

I didn't go out in crowds or have big gatherings. I'm waiting on my third test to come back and tell me results for sure, but I am pretty sure I have COVID-19.

My daughter and husband's symptoms are pretty mild, starting with a cough and runny nose, chills and headache.

My husband lost his sense of smell and taste, and this man LOVES his food. He's had to force himself to eat something every day. Currently, he is making a running list of the things he will eat first once his taste and smell come back!

My symptoms were chills, achy body (back and legs), cough, runny nose and headaches. I think the worst for me are the body aches, and then of course not being able to find a comfortable position whether sitting, standing or lying down.

Sleeping is a nightmare and the pain does not dissipate when I lie down. I have not lost my sense of smell and taste, but I have very little appetite.

I feel lucky that our breathing has not been affected and that overall these are mild symptoms. It is annoying, inconvenient and painful to deal with but I realize it could be much worse. The upside is you get plenty of time to yourself....the boredom sets in and that's when you turn to Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Apple TV, all the shows you never knew you wanted to see and some you see and wish you hadn't (haha).

The way I have been finding JOY through all of this is counting my blessings and being grateful every day. Studies have shown that being grateful can benefit your life in several ways: it can improve your physical health and improve your psychological health and it can help you sleep better! It also improves your self-esteem.

Gratitude drives a sense of purpose and it can give you a desire to do more.

I have kept a gratitude journal, and writing what I'm grateful for makes me think about things I take for granted, such as the air I breathe, the roof over my head, the food on my table, the beauty of the earth, my health, the ability I have to help others and so many other things.

Consider keeping a gratitude journal for ONE month. Every day, write down a few things you are grateful for or even just one thing. Try not to do the typical "family," "kids," "home," "job." Try to get SPECIFIC and write moments or experiences that made you grateful.

I'm grateful for technology to see my grandkids from hundreds of miles away.

I'm grateful that my washer and dryer work and I can have clean clothes, because I know there are people out there who dream of that.

Gratitude Journal

Whatever the "unthinkable" is for you whether it's COVID-19, unemployment, an unexpected move, or whatever it may be, just know that you are not alone. I love this quote:

Life is a circle of happiness, sadness, hard times and good times. If you are going through hard times, have faith that good times are on the way! (quote I found on Pinterest)