Well, I guess it’s taken this past month of CRAZINESS to finally write in this blog again.
I used to write a monthly post called “10 Things I Learned Last Month” – you can search for past posts in the search bar.
Here is the latest addition of 10 Things I Learned, summing up March 2020 (which seriously felt like an entire year). This past month, we faced the global pandemic of Covid-19, with the U.S. going into a nation-wide sabbatical. Most people, aside from essential workers, are currently working from home, schooling from home, and trying to adjust to this weird limbo life for the unforeseen future. In our home, our family is still figuring out new rhythms that work for us.
In no particular order, here are 10 things I learned this month.
1. I am under more stress than I’ve ever been in my entire life.
There are many things about the current season that are inherently stressful. Global crisis, sickness and death, economic downturn, of course. And also personal things, like worrying about my older friends and family members’ health, helping my kids adjust to lots of uncertainty, and tending to the needs within our church community. And in the midst of stress, I observe interesting ebbs and flows in me that have been unpredictable at times. Some moments I feel certain and secure, armed with a we-got-this attitude. And then other moments I’m crying, stress eating ice cream, and can’t fall asleep because I’m anxious.
2. I need my tribe of people right now.
This is the time to tighten those relational connections with the people that matter most. And I am so grateful I have my people, and ways to deepen those connections. Phone calls and texts with friends have become lifelines. Family conference calls on Zoom and video messages on Marco Polo are keeping us afloat. Thank God for technology that allows us to reach out to others right now.
3. We are all facing loss and disappointment.
Every single one of us is dealing with losses of some kind. My kids can’t see their friends, and that’s hard. Some of our extended family members and friends cannot work right now, and that’s hard. One big loss for our family is that we were scheduled to officially adopt our foster son this week, but now that’s on hold because the court system in Hawaii is essentially shut down right now. And that’s hard. Really hard. I’ve cried several times from all the loss I’m feeling.
(Since I haven’t written anything here about fostering, this may be news to you. It has been an adventure and joy for our family, and I hope to write a longer post about that at some point.)
4. I love discovering unexpected beauty around me.
Though life in our home is more chaotic than normal, there are many joys worth celebrating. My kids are so resilient and healthy. Of course there are conflicts, but overall my kids have been really kind with each other. I love seeing their friendships and sweet moments together. There is a lot of fun and laughter in our family.
I also love the beautiful, creative ways people around us are reaching out, connecting with others, and offering what they have to bless others. Humans are so wonderfully compassionate and innovative!
5. I need to pay attention to my inner world when engaging with social media.
RIght now social media feels like both a wonderful gift and a potential minefield, depending on the moment. On the good end, it’s a way to maintain social connections, read funny things that help me have a healthy level of humor, get parenting tips, and of course, learn about the gloriousness that is Tiger King on Netflix. But if I linger too long on social media, I start to get overwhelmed with news that worries me, posts that make me question whether I’m doing enough, and other things that do more harm than good. So I’m learning how to intentionally pay attention to how my heart and soul are doing while I’m on things like Facebook or Instagram. And at the point when I feel fear or anxiety rising up, it’s probably a wise time to shut it off and find other things to do.
6. More time at home means more time to cook, read, and write.
I am enjoying all this time to slow down and do things that I love, such as baking bread and reading books. Here are a few foods I’ve been making at home:
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Artisan Bread and Pizza Dough from Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish
- Quick Refrigerator Pickles
- Chili
- My Favorite Granola
- Caramel Sauce for ice cream
- Slow Cooker Kalua Pig
Feel free to check out my Recipe Archives for more food.
7. When you know it’s a marathon, and not a sprint, your strategy changes.
At first it seemed like this stay-at-home thing was for two weeks, and our family went into a certain mode. It felt new and exciting, we had a long list of fun things to do, and I had lots of romantic ideas of what schooling at home would be. It was like a Quarantine Honeymoon. Now, with schools seemingly being closed for a significantly longer time, and no clear end date to staying-at-home and physical distancing, we’ve shifted into creating more sustainable rhythms. We have some structure to our day, but also a lot of fluidity, depending on the needs of our family. Here’s a resource list I created called Things to Do at Home With Kids. Some days we do a few organized activities, other days we do none. We’ve set up some longer term work spaces in our house for all the school and Zoom meetings. I think we’re still adapting to seeing this as a longer reality than when it first started, but that’s where our family of six is at.
8. Speaking of Zoom, I’ve been enjoying leading virtual Enneagram workshops.
Since becoming a certified Enneagram coach, I’ve been finding ways to educate and equip people with the Enneagram for personal, professional, and relational growth. And thanks to Zoom, I can continue leading group workshops. They have been so much fun! If you want to know more about the Enneagram and the training I offer for groups and teams, go here.
9. Thank goodness for TV (and other wonderful things).
Seriously, there is so much to be grateful for. I am thankful that we have things like a stable home, jobs, food, our sweet baby boy who is thriving, Netflix, audiobooks, coffee, a front yard and driveway where my kids can play, friends who check in with us, my kids’ teachers who are freaking amazing, a healthy family, toilet paper and hand sanitizer, moments of solitude on my front patio, yoga, my husband finally deciding he’s ready to watch Game of Thrones with me, virtual happy hour, Shipt grocery delivery, my older kids’ ability to be helpful and self-sufficient, pizza, a large stock of wine, and so much more.
10. Easter is stripped down this year, and that’s sort of nice.
With life being simplified and decluttered, this holiday weekend that’s usually full of activities and gatherings is fundamentally different. This year we’ll have a quieter Easter celebration at home, and rest in the truth that Jesus is victorious, life emerges from death, God is good, and we have nothing to fear. Happy Easter, everyone.
What about you? What things have you learned recently?
The Larissa Monologues 