What day is it?

Health care workers at a nursing home around the corner

What day is it? 

For me it was just a really hard day. Yep, I said it. These are difficult days... And Tuesday of this week was especially difficult.

~Days full of questions.
~Days full of uncertainty.
~Days where it's difficult to find things to busy our time and minds.
~Days full of running interference between children who have cabin fever.
~Days full of trying to figure out new learning systems for these kids.
~Days full of nagging your children to make sure they have gotten their school work done, and are taking care of themselves.
~Days full of stress and loneliness.
~Days that run together.

One of the things that made Tuesday more difficult for me is the fact that I can see many who are NOT heeding the government warnings about social distancing. I take my dogs out for a walk - BY MYSELF. I see groups (of no less than 15) gathering at the track for clearly organized workouts. I see smaller groups at the area parks gathering to workout together. I see peers out doing things that I KNOW are considered non-essential. I get it, mental health & all, but when there are some of us who are working SO hard to follow the rules seeing others NOT following the rules can feel like a personal attack.

Another thing that made Tuesday more difficult for me is the fact that I am struggling to find ways to make Easter special for my family. I know that is a ridiculous feeling. I mean Jesus died and ROSE AGAIN! That IS enough. But still, the mom guilt is HUGE.

Yet another thing that made Tuesday difficult for me are PEOPLE! Come on people!
~ I've seen well meaning people making masks for others be criticized by people who think these masks are pointless.
~ I've seen people take to social media and openly criticize people they have seen in the stores or at the gas station wearing gloves. People criticize others for getting together in groups. People criticize the ones being critical of those that are getting together in groups.
~ I know that there are others out there reporting the people that are doing non-essential things and hanging out in groups. Yes, I am bothered by it, but NO I am not reporting it (check back to my mental health comment, I get it).
Can't we all just try to be good people right now. Be kind that is all!

The last thing that made Tuesday difficult for me is the fact that I cannot seem to talk myself above the things that have gotten under my skin! Why I am having so much trouble being reasonable? I am usually the one who motivates, encourages, brings positivity. Well, these aren't reasonable times my friend.

I have done things to try to combat these feelings this week. I have worked out, every day I have worked out! I have limited my time on social media & watching the news. I have made sure to stay hydrated. I am getting FAR more sleep on a consistent basis than I have in YEARS.

The fact is, this virus does NOT stress me out. I am very realistic about it; we are ALL going to have to develop immunity, either through contracting the virus or an immunization (that we know will take a while to get out EVEN IF they are testing one now). I mean, I get it, it could be bad. But if we keep doing what we are doing then the virus itself CAN be manageable. People have died because of this virus & they will continue to die; but everything will be more manageable IF we follow the recommendations. I pray for those affected and for our medical workers and I have faith that we need to act responsibly to allow our medical professionals to properly care for the very sick. I do know people that have or had this virus & it is NOT fun. I realize some people may be pretty asymptomatic but most will fall in this "mild to moderate" category. And let's face it, no one wants to be sick.

At this point I am far more bothered by what I have seen and am experiencing regarding our society and how this necessary situational response we have had to have to this virus will affect us all in the long run. Will our economy get back to "normal"? How long will it take? How will this affect my kids & their education? How will this affect my family & our finances? Will we be OK? Will this virus come back only to lock us down again? So. Many. Questions/Worries!

The good news! TODAY has been better! Today I feel like I have helped people; that brings me joy. Today I feel like I have been busy; I do not like to be bored & my mind wanders to where it shouldn't. Today I have; delivered some AdvoCare, talked to a friend, blogged, tried recipes, exercised & took a new route with the dogs, attended a meeting to learn something new ~ TODAY has been better! I haven't let all of the questions bog me down - they are still there, but I haven't focused on them as much.

This week has been my personal reminder that BETTER DAYS ARE COMING! And what a more appropriate week for me to receive this reminder! Not in our time but in HIS! These are difficult, strange and unreasonable times! I am praying for you my friend ~ I am praying for our world! The pictures in this blog are pictures that I have seen on my walks with the dogs. It will be OK. We need to keep reminding ourselves of this. There IS good in the world and SO much to be thankful for!

Chalk on my neighbor's fence that I noticed on one of my walks