THERE’S NO WRONG WAY TO COME OUT OF A PANDEMIC
Not ready to spread your wings? That’s just fine.
By: Kelly Brown | July 8, 2021
Last weekend we had conflicting T-ball and lacrosse games and a backyard birthday party for my 8-year-old—a sharp contrast to the 15 months of building LEGOs and watching Toy Story 4 on repeat.
The abruptness of returning to our new-old life feels like a plunge into a cold pool with toddlers. Even if the swim will be fun, it’s an adjustment.
On one hand, it’s fun to chat with parents at T-ball games and see our kids experiencing new things again. Yet, I miss the unscheduled time spent naming hummingbirds in our backyard.
The reason the adjustment feels like, well, an adjustment, is because I’m not the same person I was on March 13, 2020 when I watched my daughter’s last swim team practice and wondered if we’d have school the next week.
I’ve learned a lot about myself and the world in the last year and so even though my life is starting to look like a masked-up-version of what it used to be, it feels different. I feel different.
If you’re feeling this way too, it’s helpful to recognize that this is a transition. You’re not a caterpillar anymore but you’re not quite a butterfly either. This uncertain phase lies somewhere in the middle and it feels like learning to use your wings and saying goodbye to the leaves all at the same time.
For example, the relationships with co-workers that used to feel easy and fun might feel tiring or even unnecessary now. And the packed schedule that used to bring you energy might feel overwhelming. Or, maybe the return to the things you once loved feels natural and welcome to you. Maybe it’s both.
There’s no wrong way to come out of a pandemic.
Like any other transition, this is a time to be kind to yourself and go at your own pace. Remember, it takes time to become a butterfly (especially when the butterfly is tired after more than a year of virtual-schooling and hand-sanitizing).
If something’s feeling off to you, ask yourself, does this work for the version of me who’s here now?
Give yourself permission to say “no” when you would’ve said “yes”, to skip a T-ball game, cancel your brunch plans, and continue to wear joggers all day. You’re not the same person you were before the world changed. You’re wiser, possibly a little more rundown, and definitely more resilient.
There’s no rush, when the time is right you’ll be ready to fly.
Kelly Brown is a mother of three, Health Coach, and founder of Real Food House. Kelly leads a transformational wellness program called 10x REAL where she guides people in prioritizing their own health and wellness in the midst of parenthood. You can reach Kelly by email - kelly@realfoodhouse.com follow her @realfoodhouse or learn more at www.realfoodhouse.com.