Well, we did it. We managed our 1st Virtual Holiday

I can't believe it. It's becoming less and less like my heart is falling apart and more and more like the tapestry of my new life. Now, most of you who are reading this most likely saw the Back to the Future series, and if you haven't, stop reading and go watch at least the first movie. Some of you may have watched The 100 a sci-fi series, others may have read Station 11. But I have to tell you, today's episode of Social Distancing with your own family, wasn't something I ever planned to be prepared for.

I don't know about you but I've tried various technologies to get myself to a place where sitting around a table with a device and the rest of my family on the other side, might work. But still, with this weekend's "virtual events" we had multiple challenges, which have just become my new normal, where previously I may have lost my marbles and quit!

Today, as we paid homage to our previous lives, we littered our parents lawns with children (our own two!), baked goods and visual presents. Because NOTHING, not one thing, can make up for the person to person interaction, even if it's from 6 feet away.

Virtual Holiday. Is that even a thing? I guess at the end of the day, anyone relating to this can pat themselves on the back because you have essentially been able to keep yourself and your family safe, stop the spread of Covid-19 and learn something new in the process. You are considered a hero in the eyes of those on the front lines. No longer can we assume that Fire, Police and Paramedics are the only ones considered Essential. When our Politician's published the list of Approved Essential Service Providers it was lengthy. And those front liner, essential service providers are grateful that you chose to stay away rather than get together.

What's the best way? Honestly, I think everyone is in the same boat. I don't think there is one person out there that knows exactly what is the best way forward or how to have made this holiday special for their loved ones. And although I'm not truly sure, I have some suggestions that prove that maybe not knowing is exactly where we all need to be right now, because not knowing is OK.

1. Stay Sane by Focusing on Yourself. I know, I harp on this a lot, but honestly if you aren't taking a moment to breathe in and exhale, you aren't taking care of anyone. Your parents and your siblings might be behind the screen but in order to truly show up for them, you need to be the best you. Practice Breathing exercises regularly throughout the day. Take a moment to focus on your breath while you do any task at all. Putting on a diaper, breath in and out. Opening your slow computer, breath in and out. Setting up a game with your family, breath in and out. The more you practice noticing your own breath the easier it will be for you.

2. Be ok, with not being ok. It's fine. Anyone who says they are totally the same as they were before Covid-19 happened, either live under a rock or haven't been paying any attention. I want you to know that it's ok to not be ok right now. You can feel this way always, but right now, for sure. You do not need to feel like your old self right now. This isn't your old life, how can you possibly feel like your old self in a new life? It's utterly impossible. So be patient with yourself. When your body was thrown into this whole Covid-19 Social Distancing, stay home and stop hugging your friends when you see them thing, your body was most likely in total shock, began to stress out and stress eat, began to suffer a full shut down on the inside and outside. But I have to tell you, this is an absolutely normal reaction to your life changing so dramatically, all at once. Of course you aren't going to feel like yourself. Of course it's going to take a while to find your new normal.

3. 
   

Take a moment to look back and celebrate yourself. If you look back at your diary or just remember what it was like that fateful day when your country shut down, you aren't the same person. I'm not even saying you aren't the same person and that's the bad news, I'm saying you're not the same person and that's good news. Now if you look at yourself today, look how far you've come, baby! You're point where the close of a "long weekend" is near and you didn't even bat an eye at the fact that you engaged with your entire family over the internet. Yes, it's weird, but nevermind that. You adapted to this, you rocked it, and you made yourself come out of your normal-normal and seek a new normal in the process. You can still feel completely out of it, but you just did a virtual holiday which is pretty freaking amazing!

I think it's important right now that everyone, me included, practice gratitude and celebrate the little things in life that are going right. To help you all with this, I've added a Journal Page as my Easter Present to you. (click on "Journal Page" - sorry it's not chocolate!) I just thought this might be a helpful tool for you to use when you are trying to sort out what your new normal looks like and also serves as a timeline between now and your future you. You'll be able to look back at all the growth you've had.

Wishing you and your family the Happiest of Easter's!

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Stay Home.

Love,

Heather xo