On Wednesday, the struggle was REAL. Just sluggish, not particularly productive.
My Wi-Fi crashed a couple of times, a number of my calls got dropped and I couldn't focus ... sound familiar?
I was not feeling particularly healthy. Totally self-imposed … mostly due to the sheer number of carbs I am consuming, my drug of choice has been baked goods that include chocolate chips.
Do you know about our Mayor, Lori Lightfoot? She’s become a total meme and it’s hilarious.
She is stalking me…
So, I decided to take a walk about my neighborhood and see if I could shake it off. If you hadn't picked up on it yet, I live in Chicago-- I am fiercely proud of my city, as well as my neighborhood, Bucktown.
Back in the day, it was known as a tough area of the city, then artsy, gentrification and now families, strollers abound.
There are always people walking around and about, with tons of restaurants, bars, and shops. But also has beautiful green space and mature tree-lined streets. Basically, it's the suburbs of the city.
I was hoping for some inspiration, but as I walked, I really wasn't seeing it.
In fact, it was basically validating how I felt.
Not helpful.
Good luck? I know it is well intentioned, but…
Then, I saw some beauty...
Told you it was like the suburbs :)
…. and some other signs of life
See in the corner …there are people!
… and I went upstairs to change, looked out my window and saw our own green shoots …
yes, those are my lucky red running socks from my dear friend, Andy Sachs. He sent them to me before I ran my first marathon!
I felt a little better-- at least enough to sit down and start writing and answering emails. Back at it folks!
I looked in front of me. I have these cards right in front of my window.
They have inspirational quotes printed on them and because I'm into the whole self-motivation speak lately, I've been flipping them more often lately. The way I see it, it's basically a fortune cookie without having to eat the cookie.
YES.
Have you ever been working SO hard and SO many hours that you are not productive? You’re working hard, but not smart. Spinning your wheels. And now with Covid, there are both endless distractions and not enough all at the same time.
Everyone is talking about how they "want to get back to normal". Have you thought was normal is going to be like? I have just a little bit.
I started thinking about how the city really comes alive during the late Spring and Summer. The thing about Chicago is that when you deal with crappy winters, people are so EXTRA when its nice out. (Hence shorts in 55 degree weather!)
And, I started thinking about things I love and look forward to...
Opening Day at Wrigley! (sorry Sox fans, be kind)
Street festivals! (yay for drinking on hot asphalt and eating fried food!)
Grilling on the deck with all our friends on the fly! Not for any reason, just ‘cause
and my youngest daughter’s birthday in June! (insert heart emoji)
But Opening Day has come and gone. Many of the street festivals have already been cancelled. The numbers of confirmed cases and deaths continues to climb. The degrees of separation are closing in, if they haven’t arrived already.
We see our loved ones virtually, but it's not the same as giving hugs and watching the kids play. I was in full-on pity-party-play the violin strings mode.
Feeling pretty selfish, I put that away and started working-- and managed to get a considerable amount done.
As we head into month #2 of #stayathome and #shelterinplace, I'm hoping we all continue to settle in, adjust when needed and stick together.
Maybe we have more better days than not-so-better days.
As today's card says...
I'm not even kidding. This is what came up today.
See what I mean about the fortune cookie thing?
For those of your celebrating Easter, Passover-- Happy Holiday weekend!
Be well, stay well.
Jean