Hello everyone! It has officially been a month since I have been back in the states, and things has progressed rapidly. Today the Michigan governor has declared a State of Disaster to hopefully allow for more resources to help. And I got laid off for the first time (well it’s furlough but close enough, thanks GAP!).

I cannot believe that it has been a month of a whole lot of boring! My cousin the other day misspelled quarantine as “corn a teen” and I haven’t laughed so hard in awhile! During this quarantine, I have finished “The Glass Castle”- very good book, touching and a reality check that I think all students should read in high school! I have begun the Jonathan Kozol’s “Amazing Grace” and also What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I’ve completed several puzzles and have watched many, many TV shows. And I’ve succumbed to the popular trend of Tik Tok (it is hilarious).

So I have had homework yes, and done a few productive things like walking and cooking, the majority of my days feel quite useless. The past week I have been contemplating this feeling, why it is happening and how I can accept this situation. After talking to several friends, it is clear that nobody is having a good time- so what are we to do?!

The feelings of a wasted day can be frustrating especially for folks like myself that are diligent with making the most out of the day and are always on the go. So now it is a season of rest- and we are losing our minds!

Making a “corn a teen” schedule can be helpful for some people, but it’s not really my thing, instead I have tried to do at least 2 things a day that I can be proud of. For example, today I finished my essay for a class and spent several hours on an Advanced Child Care Training course online! I did watch many episodes of Hart of Dixie, but this relaxation is calming, and we ought to enjoy that while we can.

These next few weeks and potentially months are going to be hard. It’s like the song in Frozen 2, Into the Unknown! I have friends graduating into the work force (I’ll be graduating but headed to graduate school) and the uncertainty can be crippling. I pray that all gets worked out so that they can thrive in new positions with their new skills!

But while we wait for this storm to pass, I challenge you to find something each day that can make you proud, something that when this is over you can look back at and be happy that you did.

Some ideas I have been thinking to work on are a mosaic table or plant pot, learning embroidery, and working on my writing! My friend Lauren also suggested the app Down Dog which is free for yoga practice until May.

Finding motivation is hard, but self-care is crucial so please find the barest of motivation to at least be kind to yourself.

Here is an infographic that offers some suggestions for mental health care:

A time of uncertainty can flourish a breeding ground for growth. What are you up to during this COVID-19 quarantine? What do you hope to do during this time of rest?

Hope all is well and thank you for reading!