On Becoming, and Not Just Coming Back

As states start to reopen it feels like we are seeing a light at the end of the proverbial quarantine tunnel. You are probably hearing statements like “we are coming back to the life that we used to have.” We may very well returning to “normal” but how you return is up to you. I invite you to take a couple of moments of introspection with me and think about your “comeback.”

– What did you learn?: Often we don’t ask this question enough. I don’t mean the “what did you learn about the world, work, your partner/husband/friends.” I mean what did you learn about you? Are you resilient, tolerant, intolerant? Do you love and accept yourself as you are? Did you really need Starbucks (OK…..I do, I love it……) or are you good with a regular cup of coffee? We had a lot of time to be with ourselves. Do you see yourself in a different light? Maybe even have a lot more respect for yourself? This was not an easy road. We all have been impacted in different ways but I hope you can walk away with a stronger sense of self. I know I have.

​– We paused, but did you grow?: I am sure we all hit the pause button on a lot of things. I for one have a lot less social events. But here is what I learned. It is not the quantity of activities that I do but the quality that really fills me. I had plenty of Zoom happy hours, chats and calls but during this event that forced me to make really mindful choices, I learned that I am enough. I don’t need all the social to feel fulfilled. I love my close friends, family and I no longer need to be in search for “what else may be out there.” I am enough. Me being enough is growth (for me). I hope you grew “into” yourself too.

– Are you going back or moving forward?: We can always go back to the life we had, with some changes because lets face it, stuff happened. Like real stuff…..But we have been given the opportunity to either take what we have learned and throw it away/set it aside and go back to who we were before and do what we used to do…..or we can move forward and not rush back to “the way we were” because we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Moving forward is not as easy. It means we changed and we are carving a different path. Wether you decide to move forward or go back, be at peace with it. After all you are the one making the choice.
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So, how are you doing? What did you learn? How did you grow? Where are you taking yourself next?