When This Is Over

I find myself saying the phrase "When this is over and we can...".  A lot.  Almost every day.  I suppose that's a good sign.  It means I haven't given up.  That I believe that there will be an end to this virus at some point and thing well return to normal.  Maybe not normal as in exactly as it was before.  But closer to that than to this current reality.

I like to think about the things I want to do when that day comes.  Some are just the little day to day things I have missed.  Things I wanted to do before this started which have  been put on hold.  And things I have dreamed up while in quarantine.   Maybe it's because staying in the house almost every day gives one plently of time to daydream.

Some of the things I plan to do when this is over are:

• Get a coffee and take a looong walk around Hobby Lobby
• Go to Target (not just the drive-up pick up service)
• Date night with the Man of the House for a drink and listening to live music
• Go out for sushi (I have a mental block that discourages me from ordering take out sushi)
• Take the grand kid to the zoo to see the penguins and giraffes
• A weekend away with the Man of the House
• Take the Male Offspring to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
• Get a haircut
• Have lunch with my Dad
• Have lunch with my Mom
• Have lunch with the Man of the House
• Go to the library

Are there things you are looking forward to doing once we don't have to stay so far apart from others?

Finding the Focus

Emotionally, last week was kind of a tough one.  I was all over the place.  One day I felt as if I was living my best quarantine life - working on stuff for my Etsy shop, binging some Netflix and Hulu shows, reading, and taking as many precautions as possible to prevent any virus germies from entering the house.  Another day has me in tears because I just want to be able to pick out my own produce again.  When this is all over, I will never complain about grocery shopping again.  (ok... I probably will.  But not for a long, long while)

Warning:  Huge sidetrack...   I'm sorry, but I am getting a little tired of seeing posts implying (or out-right saying) that we shouldn't complain about the quarantine.  Do we know that things could be worse?  Yes, of course!  Could the conditions for the quarantine could be much less pleasant?  Yep!  Is the quarantine for our own good?  Sure!  But that doesn't mean that feelings of frustration, isolation,  and discouragement aren't real and valid.  Making people feel petty isn't helping anyone cope.  We don't need to be shamed for how we feel.  We need to be able to express those emotions, work through them and hopefully be able to move on with a little relief and a brighter perspective.

So, yes - somedays I am going to sit on my couch and watch Netflix and eat chocolate and feel sorry for myself .  Somedays I won't.   And that's the end of my  rant for the week.  I'll move on now.

Remember last week when I said that I hadn't set any goals for April.  I still haven't.  BUT - I decided in the middle of my funk this week, that maybe not having any goals for myself right now isn't the best idea.  Perhaps I need a few goals to give me something to make me feel a little bit as if I am in control.  Rather than just focusing on what I can't do, I can focus on the goals I have set for myself.

Sounds good.  Right?  So...

Goals for April 6 - 12, 2020"

• Clean out nightstand
•  Send out some cards and letters
• Order birthday present for sister
• Email wholesale customers 
• Write at least 2 posts for shop blog
• Photograph and list new items for Etsy shop
• Finish crochet blanket for the grand kid
• Write at least 2 future posts for this blog

Are you finding it helpful to set goals for yourself during these days of Stay Home orders?  Or are you enjoying the relaxed pace and just taking things as they come?