Like many of you, I have been affected by the Stay At Home orders handed out as quickly as dog treats over the last 2 + months. But not in the same way you might expect.
In the Beginning
When the Stay Home orders began in Utah, I was still working. Every week day, I was up at 7a and out the door between 8:20a and 8:30a, so I could be at work by 9a. But my weekends were much more closed door. (I did choose to stop teaching yoga right away though.)
Instead of 2 hours of church each Sunday, I was now staying at home listening to past sermons from my church’s annual and semi-annual world wide conferences. I focused more on reading from the scriptures and found myself singing along to Christian hymns. And, I greatly enjoyed watching uplifting YouTube videos shared by my church.
I was anxious, but I was still doing my best to press forward.
Choosing to Stay Home
A couple of weeks later, and I found myself at home.
I did my best going to work every day fulfilling my role as an essential employee in a Senior Memory Care Home, but there was always an underlying anxiety and uneasiness.
But, eventually, these feelings became too great, and I made the decision to stop working. Immediately my emotional well being went from cloudy and stormy to sunny and 75.
I have been at home ever since. I spend my morning cleaning my home.
Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 & 109:8
Once the cleaning is done, I try to exercise by getting outside and walking, biking, or running; doing some resistance training using the dumbbells, resistance bands, and pull up bar as well as my own body weight; and practicing yoga asana.
The rest of my day is spent listening to music and podcasts, creating art, reading, writing, talking with family, and preparing dinner among many, many other things.
I am home. And I am happy. Sadly I know this isn’t the case for everyone.
Looking Forward
Doors are opening little by littler as state and local governments allow for changes to be made to social distancing guidelines and staying at home. Businesses are reopening. And inch by inch, we tiptoe closer back to “normal” life functioning.
Today (April 29th, 2020), I was notified that the yoga studio I teach at is opening its doors. I was invited to be one of the teachers to come back. I have agreed to teach. I am wary, and I am cautious. But, I am excited!
I don’t know what the future holds. But I know that, if we work together, if we are mindful of each other and the world around us, we will succeed.