Awakened

After what felt like a long winter, we're back on the trails. The weather has increasingly gotten better, the days have gotten longer, and the sunshine radiates the warmth that we've been missing.

Unfortunately, the lockdown continues, but at least we can get outside more often and enjoy the fresh air.

"Things are going to get better. It's just a matter of time", I tell myself.

The truth is, no one knows how long this pandemic will last. I've already celebrated two COVID birthdays and I'm not about to hold my breath at this point.

We'll continue to sacrifice. We'll continue to adapt.

In the meantime, let's enjoy our time as much as possible. Let's not fall into a victim mentality, but rather hold our head up high and push onward.

There's something to be said about a person who, despite great difficulty, decides to aim upward towards the highest good. You can't break a person with that type of mindset.

This pandemic has forced everyone to take inventory of their own lives. How much can you tolerate? Where are your weak spots? How can you get stronger?

I think I've learned more about myself in the last year than I have in my entire life.

I fell into a pit of despair when the pandemic began, so I started working harder on my mind, body and spirit. I read countless books to educate myself, exercised daily, I took up prayer and meditation, and I quit drinking coffee and alcohol. I was doing anything I could to give me a sense of control in a world that was becoming more and more unstable.

I started to think deeper about everything I did. I questioned everything. All of this introspection eventually took me on a path to higher ground, where I began to view the world from a different perspective.

I started to do things I never imagined. For example, I started to paint after a 20 year hiatus. I forgot how much I missed it, and it was a breath of fresh air compared to my desk job as a graphic designer. Instead of moving the mouse around, I was moving paint, and it gave me new life.

In a world of big screens and digital imagery I realized that's not exactly where I see myself anymore. More than ever, I have an urge to create something tangible.

We'll see where this journey takes me. I'm excited about the possibilities.

Although COVID has taken a lot from us, it's forced us to look deeper and reflect on where we stand. Am I where I want to be? Am I on the right path? Am I the best possible father and husband? Do I hold myself accountable?

Suddenly there are no more excuses for ignoring these kinds of questions. So if there's one thing I'm grateful for (in the midst of this pandemic) it's THIS.

I've been awakened.