Welcome to July…

These last four months have been some of the most challenging of my entire life. I find myself literally feeling “all the emotions” all in one day. It is like riding a roller coaster that never ends and is not nearly as fun as a real roller coaster. I feel hope, joy, courage, and also, discouragement, despair, and depression.

The ramifications of the Corona Virus are far reaching. It is not just the disease itself, it is the consequences to our hearts, our minds and our spirits. It is the loss of those we love, it is the lethargy of life, it is the holding our breath waiting normalcy.

Like many of you, I have used this time to work on “me”. To separate out the negative and work wholly on the positive. To grow, to learn, to evolve. I suppose these are lofty goals during a time where many days I feel like I am trying to keep my head above water. Growth always seems to happen best for me in adversity. This is adversity. This is a huge challenge.

I find that I cannot manage too many things at once, (when at one time I considered myself quite the effective multi-tasker). I allow distractions to work against the progress, I get wrapped up in the silliest of things and this defeats me and welcomes in the negative emotions, depression, and anxiety.

I guess I feel like somehow I should be better than this. My lists (there are many) of goals should be completed and sparkling. It is almost like I think I should not be affected in any way by a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. I should be in harmony, changing the world, in an Olympic quality healthy body, successfully growing my business, and… Well, you get the idea.

The external influences (social media, obligations, pandemics, you know- all the things) stir the pot even larger. It creates the ramp-up of whatever I am feeling much more intensely. Often these are negative influencers rather than positive.

My husband has always said that I perhaps should be a little more gentle with myself. There are times I can honestly say I am not even sure how to go about this. Another nugget of wisdom he shares is that I should ask for what I need. (In theory, I UNDERSTAND what that might be) In these times of global challenge, I believe that the identification of needs can be difficult.

My challenge for each of us:

If you listen to any “expert” they will share with you that any positive change makes a difference in your well being. I will be completely transparent to say that the things that frustrate me most these days are my environment and my lack of balance.

I feel like both are reflective of the internal weirdness that I am currently caught up in. It is up to me to stop the struggle and find a way back to harmony.

Today is July first. The sun is shining, the Rochester morning air is crisp and cool, it’s my nephew’s birthday (Happy birthday, Jake!) and it is the beginning of a brand new set of thirty-one days. It is a clean slate in many ways. (as every single day is!)

I seem to be one who enjoys launching a new initiation at the beginning of something. So today is the day! I invite you to join me.

July for me is about harmony. The three things I see as having me most imbalanced are as follows-

My physical well being. Prioritizing my health has always been a struggle for me. We could dissect the psychological reasonings, but in many ways, it would be one more distraction. I could tell you ad nauseam why I don’t prioritize my physical self. However, it is time to make a change. For the month of July, I commit to doing that. I will keep track of the positive things I do for my body. Hopefully, in the next thirty-one days it will be a habit, not a challenge. I invite you to join me in doing this.

My balance of work/life. So, this year my business is ten years old. It has become a huge focus for me. During the pandemic it has become a greater focus. I work seven days a week, many many hours a day. If I am not actively working, I am thinking about working. Yet I find that I am not reaching my intentions, I am not finishing as many things as I hoped.

This is multi folded- first, I AM ONE PERSON- doing the job of probably three or four without the expertise of the aforementioned individuals. Also, without balance you are ineffective! (which is why social media, words with friends, and solitaire become so gosh darn dangerous!) I think to myself, I “deserve a break”- well yes, I sure do, but a real one, not a chew up my time and gain nothing from it kind of break.

So… I will work daily on a new form of balance. I will create this habit as a way to manage my business and become more effective. (and chill too!)

My environment. I have spent most of my adult life thinking that this house/apartment is temporary. We want something bigger, different, in a different location, or whatever. So, I exist there instead of living there. I have boxes full of my parent’s home as well. Still. in. boxes.

Also, when I moved to my new studio in February, I moved in five days before the grand opening of the new collective. So while I am there, I am not moved in. I don’t have my everything in containers, with labels and neatly stacked in my storeroom. Again, I want to live there.

So. Daily, at home or the studio, I will do something to improve my environment. I believe that the opportunity is great here. I NEED this. I believe many other things will fall into place once some progress has been made.

So, welcome, July. I know and appreciate that these days are difficult. The uncertainty tears at our very souls, but I maintain we still have a great amount of power. We still have so much opportunity. I hope you see that too.

Will you join me? Will you seek a little more balance ? I would love to support you and would welcome your support of me. One step at a time, my friends….

Sending you so much love,

Susan

P. S. To help you see your progress- I have created this so you can see all your efforts in a wonderful and visual way! xo

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