Venting and sharing some silver linings...

Hello virtual world. It’s been a while since I have had the emotional strength to write anything. We are all just trying to survive in a world that has been turned upside down. If you told me a few months ago that TP, tissues, and paper towels would be worth more than gold, I would have laughed in your face. In the last 2 months, entire industries have been crushed, millions of hard working people have lost their jobs (including me) and everyone is being forced to shelter in place with their “loved” ones, which for some raises even more challenges. I have been living my life kind of like the Serenity Prayer, without the addiction and the god part (although I may be addicted to Netflix now). I am trying to accept the things I cannot change, like not being able to go anywhere, see my friends, or know if I will get my job back. I have been trying to keep my anxiety and depression from taking over, which has been an uphill battle for the last 20 years. I have been trying to help support my mom, who is a caregiver for my Dad who has Alzheimer's. I am trying to change the things I have control over, like exercising when I can and enjoying the little things in life. Small pleasures like a piece of homemade cake, the silly things my fur-babies do every day, and binge watching old episodes of shows that take me to a nostalgic happy place. I have been volunteering at my job, learning new skills, and helping to support a mission that I still believe in. Most importantly, I have been trying to laugh at least once a day which brings me to this blog post. Now that I have kind of depressed you all I hope I can get you back with some laughs. I want to focus on silly things right now because otherwise I may lose my mind.

Below are 5 silver linings that I have found so far while sheltering in place.

#5: Wearing leggings as pants is no longer a fashion faux pas

In fact there are no more fashion crimes at all. You can wear or not wear what you want. The only people who see you are your family, the delivery guy, or if you are still working remotely, you just need to worry about your top half (pants optional)!

#4: Ordering too much take out is now smiled upon instead of frowned upon

Maybe some of you used to get that judgmental look when you ordered a ton of take out to just sit on your coach and binge watch TV on a Saturday Night. Now it’s the new norm. Hopefully you all are supporting local businesses and ordering food to eat while you watch way too much TV.

#3: You don’t have to feel guilty about bitching at or about your family

You have been stuck inside with your family for more than a month now. You love them but come on, humans are not supposed to be together 24/7. Everyone has snapped at some point and it is totally socially acceptable. Luckily, they love you unconditionally, so go ahead and be crabby. It’s more than ok at this point.

#2: Being a couch potato is cool now

Even the beautiful celebs are doing it as they post on social media telling us normal folks never to leave the house. It’s now trending to binge watch whatever you want. Whether it’s Tiger King or something nostalgic like Gilmore Girls, Buffy, or Supernatural (my personal favs).

# 1: It’s ok now for me not to date

I can’t tell you the pressure a single gal my age gets about not obsessing over meeting the guy of her dreams. I am so tired of dating sites and my friends and family pushing me to put myself out there. I may be the last single and fabulous gal out there but I am fine with that. Now if I was to date, I am not even sure what that would look like. Going for a neighborhood walk in a mask, while remaining 6 feet a part. I think I’d rather stay home and watch Netflix with my fur-babies. Stay safe and healthy out there. Remember, to try and laugh at least once a day!