Summertime Quarantine
While we are not sheltered in place like we were a few months ago, we are still not venturing out as we had in summer’s past. I miss the freedom to roam, I miss going out without a mask on, I miss planning for my summer vacation and I miss the ease of life as we know it. When I find myself complaining, I remind myself (and those around me) how many lives are lost or impacted by this virus, and that puts everything into perspective. “Suck it up Mellor”, I say to myself. This is where a gratitude practice really becomes a tool to survive and to thrive during this time of uncertainty.
There was this pressure (self-imposed perhaps) to get stuff done, try something new, go after that goal, climb that mountain, sail that sea sort of thing during SIP. I was probably one of those cheerleaders encouraging you (and me) to do some of those things along with taking advantage of the downtime and family time. I did not do a whole lot during SIP, and my guess is that is exactly what I needed. I sometimes imagine what it would be like to feel no pressure to do anything, be anything, achieve anything, and that others’ opinions did not matter. My business needed my attention, which was purposeful as I knew people needed leadership, and the community I am part of is a positive one, that was a great use of my time and energy (leading through adversity is what I have prepared for professionally & personally).
My quarantine project (which came on the later end) became my lawn and also gardening for the first time. I can’t believe how soothing it became, and while my garden is one small bed (you need to start somewhere) to see vegetables actually grow is really rewarding (I think any gardener knows this feeling too well). So while I did not want to feel the pressure to climb the mountain and sail the sea, I did take on something that started from nothing and would grow. I am not sure I would call myself a gardener, part of the getting dirty I don’t like, but what I do like is the nurturing, the growth, the commitment and love each day, those are things that come naturally to me. As we are still in this uncertain world, and we don’t have our regular routines, it is important that we each find some small thing that brings us distraction (attention) and a place to escape. Isn’t it funny how mindfulness is so important, but the ability to escape is equally important at certain times or in certain circumstances? My lawn & garden became my escape, my place to nurture, my place to grow (even thou I was at home I was traveling to another land). This experience further taught me that it is not always about knowledge & expertise (while important), I put my heart and commitment into these projects, and the results were incredible—validating that heart & commitment can be a match for expertise any day of the week. I always share in leadership training or advice to “lead with your heart”, it will never lead you in the wrong direction, and love is the top emotion IMHO when it comes to leadership and creating positive/sustainable results.
What have you tried or have done more or less of during this time of Pandemic? Have you found a place to escape? While it is important to be present, to live in the moment, to be mindful it is also awesome to escape, be it in a hobby, a destination, a book, a movie/series or other ways to shift the body and mind away from the pandemic and into a story, a project, and something to nurture, grow and create.
If you are not up for a challenge of something new, even giving thought of visualizing some things you desire or might find of interest could be a good start. Make a fun list of things to do, a bucket list of things you might try, or would like to do in the coming months and years.
XO