Personal

Personal
It’s simple…be kind.
- January 25, 2021
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
A post on FB

A post on Facebook really spoke to me this morning, so I thought I’d talk more about the message it sent to me.

Have you ever been through something extremely tough, but had to show up because of a prior commitment? Then you later hear people were not very nice about the things they said behind your back? Perhaps it’s rather common. I’d like to think not, but it has happened to me as well, so I do know it happens.

Grace

Even prior to the events of 2020, we all dealt with things that were sad, heart breaking, upsetting…even losses. So it’s not new, however I believe in this past year it has become much clearer to me that we need to live in a state of grace.

Giving grace when every expectation is not met. Being patient with others. Perhaps even asking if you can help in some cases.

We just do not know what others are going through. I’ve known people that have lost their jobs or taken a very hefty cut in pay. Moms that had to learn to be a teacher overnight. Couples learn how to be together 24/7 where it was not as easy as it may seem. Not to mention the illnesses and deaths that many of us have witnessed very close to us.

Never fails

And it never fails, when I’m going through a stressful or sad time, there seems to be a lot I need to do, where I’m sure that I’m not at 100% as I typically would be. I’m just grateful to be there, but know that I’m not at my best. I’ve watched how impatient others can be, but also how kind many people are.

I typically am not one to share what I’m dealing with, and I know many others just like me in that regard. With that being said, I believe that has opened my eyes in a big way.

Being patient, giving someone grace, not being so hard on ourselves, being kind…these are just a few things we can do.

Be kind

This seems easy, right? Have you ever noticed that unless you sit back and really think about it, you may not be giving someone the benefit of the doubt? So the next time your brain starts taking you down a negative road because the person in front of you isn’t doing it just the way you want, or maybe isn’t even being very nice themselves, take a step back and take a deep breath. Consider that they could be going through something awful, even tragic. Then respond with grace.

Shoot…even if they are just mean, by doing this, you will actually feel better anyway! It feels much better to kill’em with kindness than it does to be as hateful as they are. Right?

So there’s my two cents on the subject. XOXO Be kind to everyone you run across today. Then let us know how that made you feel!

Love to you,
Personal
Take care YOU!
- January 18, 2021
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
January 2021!
Exhausted yet? LOL Seriously though, although it’s just January, many are already going through a lot, or perhaps working really hard to kick off your year! Either way, it can be exhausting when you are on the “GO GO GO” for hours and days on end!

With that being said, I bet you all agree that self care is THE most important thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones. If you are not taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of others. We’ve all heard that before, but stop and let it sink in for just a moment. And then ask yourself…are you taking care of yourself?

Works for me!
Taking care of ourselves means different things to different people. For some it means spending some time at a spa. Or perhaps it’s just sitting quietly and reading a book for a few hours. If you aren’t sure what to do, here are just a few things that I do that absolutely work for me.
- Make a list of things I’m grateful for.
- Talk to a friend.
- Sit outside in the sunshine.
- Read a book.
- Watch a TV show that makes me laugh. (Will & Grace used to be my go to!)
- Get a massage or facial.
- Take a walk. Bringing my dog is even better!
- Go to the beach for a day!
- Do some Yoga or stretching.
- Listen to your favorite music.
- And for me…organizing things is a self care activity. LOL Yes! It brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment, as well as a feeling of cleanliness.
- Speaking of cleanliness, a warm bath is always nice too! Add a glass of wine even!
These are just a few simple things I do. Planning activities, trips and finding a scenery where I can take some photos is always relaxing for me as well, but not always super easy to have the time to do. The ideas above are easy, and can be done just about any time.

Oh, and if you google self care, there are SO many other ideas at your fingertips! Find a few that speak to you!

Consider making a list of some things you can do, so that the next time you are a bit overwhelmed or realize you need to stop and take a break, you can grab your list and just pick something! Even an hour is better than nothing.

If you have any self care tips that you do and would like to share, we’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, take care you!

Peace, love and light,
Personal
You have to be ready!
- December 7, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
Have you ever started something but within a few days, you’ve already lost interest or have given up? Maybe it was to work on a new project, or a goal you have been wanting for a long time, or maybe it was to get healthier. I know I have!!

Here’s the bottom line…you have to be READY. Mentally ready. I’m the worst at having a great idea and saying I’m gonna start tomorrow, only for tomorrow to come and nothing changes on my end.

Take getting healthy for example. I’ve had a battle with my weight since I was pregnant with my son. I’ve been super skinny (all the while thinking I needed to lose weight…insert eye roll here), and I’ve been very big, bloated, and uncomfortable too. From size 2 to 16. The one thing I have learned over these years is unless I was READY, it was just a bunch of talk whenever I said I was going to watch what I ate.

Just ask my husband…he’ll tell you I used to always say “starting Monday….” Right. Mondays came but I didn’t start anything! I even got to where I would almost laugh at myself before the sentence was out of my mouth.

Usually, with my weight, it was because we had events or were going to be traveling, and I could make some great excuses. But they were just excuses. Trust me, when it’s finally important enough, you make it happen.

Here’s what I learned. The goal for me needs to be bigger than the challenge. Much bigger.

The other thing I realize I need for ME, is someone to help hold me accountable and continually cheer me on.

I’ve tried programs and even had a health coach (who was fantastic and definitely got me familiar with what a healthy plate looked like! Sadly, once my time was up, I didn’t keep trying too hard…that’s on me). But suddenly, as I’m totally uncomfortable in my clothes, and seeing two BIG occasions on the horizon in 2021, something clicked. I was READY.

You know you are ready when nothing gets in your way. When there is no good enough excuse to blow it. When your positive self talk every day is “I feel great and I’m so proud of me for making healthy choices again today!”.

So once you have your goals set and you know you are ready, keep those goals in front of you and give yourself a positive pep talk every chance you can! And be sure you surround yourself with people that will cheer you on. Until then, if you start and stop something a few times, don’t beat yourself up about it. You just weren’t ready yet. You will be! And you’ll know it!!

And if you need that solid support system, find it! It’s out there! (I can give you ideas if you need them!)

Once you start inching closer and closer to your goals, you will be SO glad you did it all.

I’ve always heard…”the time passes anyway, why not be working toward that goal so that you’ll be that much closer when that time does come!”

So get out there and kick some butt! Claim your goals. You can do it!!! I’d love to hear what you are claiming! Drop me a message!

You’ve got this!
Personal
Sometimes peace is all we need…
- November 30, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
Though I always try my best to be grateful all year long, it’s this time of year I do a lot of reflecting and realize just how thankful I truly am.

Have you heard the verse from the Bible that says “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19. This particular promise (along with many others) got me through some of the toughest times in my adult life. I’m very thankful for God’s promises, so today I’m going to share a little more than I normally do.

As an independent girl on my own in my 20’s, I often times was not sure how I would make it until my next paycheck. Fairly typical I’m sure. Yet, it was always so incredible how it worked out. Somehow I never went without food or a roof over my head. Granted, I had my parents who would never have let me starve, but they raised me to be independent, and with that came some pride and I didn’t want to ask for their help.

Then my 30’s came with the gift of a son! I was so incredibly happy to be pregnant, and was beyond excited when I found out I was having a boy. My pregnancy did come as a complete surprise however, which caused some other challenges in my life. This is when I decided I was in over my head and I gave it all to Him…in fact, the song Jesus Take the Wheel plays in my head when I think about it.

Being a single mom for many years could have been very challenging, but because I had literally “let go and let God”, I managed through most days with a peace that even I wasn’t sure I understood. Yes, I was living paycheck to paycheck, but I knew not to worry about how the bills would be paid. We didn’t have anything fancy, but we managed just fine. Each time I felt that sense of worry wash over me, I quickly went to prayer because He promised to provide. I could rest in that.

I’m not saying times weren’t hard from time to time. Crying in my closet so my son wouldn’t hear me. Unexpected doctor bills, car problems, you know…the unexpected and unbudgeted things that happen in life. But I truly believe that because I had my faith, and God’s promises, we were just fine. He doesn’t promise to give us everything we want, but He does promise to give us what we need. And for that I’m so grateful. Again, I was very fortunate to have my parents and good friends near that were such a blessing to me…which I always believed was another provision from God.

We hit some rough times along the way for a few years, but my conviction and prayer got stronger. At one time, I felt very confused and not sure what to do or where to turn, but it was at that time I prayed even more. I journaled a lot and I would seek wisdom from the Bible. Some days I didn’t know what tomorrow would look like, but I truly felt that Christ was guiding me through it, so with that, I did feel a sense of peace.

Now that I’m older, I still lean on Him constantly, but what I love is that He has allowed me to see where He was working in my life. Where I am today is where I’m supposed to be. I can see now where things happened that helped me get here. Some very difficult things that at the time I couldn’t understand why we were being put through, that now I can see. In fact, some truly incredible blessings came from those difficult times. For that I am so grateful.

I know that many people aren’t quite sure, or do not even believe, so if my story can touch even one person and give them some hope, then I want to share. Especially this year with the hardships so many have had to face, it has been very hard on many. If I could give one bit of advice, it would be to pick up a Bible. Each day, if I start with a verse, it often times amazes me that it will be about something I am currently dealing with. God is amazing that way.

Since this goes out publicly, I am hesitant to share in depth details, but if you want to have a conversation, I would be very happy to share more of my story. I am not one to talk about my faith all the time, as it has been a private thing for me for so many years, but I do feel compelled to open up, incase someone just needs to hear it right now.

It’s comforting to have a faith that you can find peace in. I wish that for you. Sometimes, peace is all we need.

Peace and love,
Business, Personal
It’s just a tough day, what can I say!
- September 29, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
Some days are just rough. Aren’t they? No matter what we do, they are just ROUGH.

Full Moon?

Sometimes we blame it on a full moon. Sometimes there are other things going on that are at the root of the problem that feel like they are spinning out of control.

Monday was one of those rough days for me. Things flying at me one after another. Some things that I can’t control. Some things I can do something about.

Here’s an interesting thing. Normally Monday through Friday I have a morning routine. My husband is doing some night work right now so I didn’t do my normal routine because I was tip-toeing around the house since he had just gotten home when I woke up and he needs to sleep. I find that my morning routine not only gets me prepared mentally for my day, but it arms me for it too. Physically and mentally. I was missing that on Monday.

So what do we do?

So what do we do when we are off kilter, and the day is going crazy around you? Here’s what I did Monday and I felt SO much better after, so thought I would share. When I began to feel that overwhelm and frustration where my head feels like it’s spinning and I can’t think super clear, I caught myself and took some steps to correct.
- So that I would not forget any of the immediate tasks and fixes I needed to take care of, I quickly wrote each one down on a sheet of paper.
- I got up from my desk, leaving my cell phone there.
- Poured myself a big glass of water. Hydration is so important!
- I ventured out to my patio . I would have loved to take a short walk around my block, but it was raining at the time so I just sat and listened to the rain for a few minutes.
- When I came back to my desk (because I do need to get these things done!), I reached out to two people first just to say something nice to them.
- Feeling a little more clear headed, I began again, starting with the first thing I had written on my list.
Just these simple things helped clear my head and shift my energy. Sending out a couple of positive messages triggered my brain to think positive again because I was thinking nice things about these people. Also getting up, walking around, going outdoors even for a moment, and getting hydrated, all made a difference!

It CAN be that easy!

Sometimes it just takes a few simple things to shift how things are going. Making sure we find positive things to think about helps me immensely so that when I start getting flustered, I am able to remind myself of the good things quickly. Sometimes things are just rough. Sometimes things just don’t go right. People can be hateful, and processes can get messed up. When these things happen a few times over and over we often go off course and forget about the good that is happening at the same time. This is also often a good time to reflect on why we are doing what we do and why we love it.

The thing we must remember is that if the things that are causing us frustrations are not life altering, then we really need to take a big deep breath and do our best not to allow the stress to make us sick. It’s not worth that. Yes, we want things to be ironed out. We are allowed to get upset. But to stay mad over something we can’t control does us no good at all. And stress is a killer, so figure out what makes you feel better mentally and do that!

I’ve also found that time and time again, the issue gets ironed out or there is some sense made of it. So just be patient!

During this time of Covid things have been especially tough for many. So we have to work even harder at staying calm and keeping a level head.

What do you do when you are having a rough day? I’d love to hear! XOXO
Personal
My own worst enemy
- September 8, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
This blog may be a bit different than my norm. It’s been on my heart to share, so here we go…

Not a good cook

I am definitely my own worst enemy. I’ve been very hard on myself because I’m not a good cook. I would get mad that dinner didn’t turn out like I had planned, or that I didn’t know what would go well together. Even what spices I should use on different things. I was not cutting myself a break at all.

Years ago I messed up a chicken dish I made for my husband. Since then, if anything goes wrong or doesn’t taste right while I’m cooking, I experience all kinds of negative emotions. I get mad at myself, or I vow that I won’t ever cook again. I actually never cared much for cooking. Here’s the interesting part though…for years I made it a goal of mine. To learn to cook better. To take cooking lessons. To get better at it and enjoy being in the kitchen.

It’s OK!

I’ve done those things. And guess what. I have come to learn that no matter what I do, I just don’t like to cook. I love all the kitchen gadgets, but I do not like cooking. And the best part is, I have FINALLY decided that it is OK!!

Finally, after all these years, I no longer give myself a hard time in the kitchen. If I am cooking, I just get it done. If it turns out great, that’s just a bonus. I keep it simple. As healthy as I can make it, but simple. But most of the time I encourage my husband to put something on the grill and I just do the cleaning. Either way, once I realized it was OK not to love to cook, or even to be a good cook, I felt a huge weight lift from my shoulders.

I think growing up, women always did the majority of the cooking. And I have family and friends that are amazing in the kitchen. So I felt a need to compare myself, which we know never goes well.

Come to terms

It took me way too many years to come to terms with it, so I’m here to share with you. If there’s something that you are hard on yourself about, take a hard look inward to see if it’s something you even like doing. I’m not saying trying to learn was a mistake, but all it did was make me more frustrated and even harder on myself.

People say “but it’s so easy”. Or “all you have to do is…” Nope. If the passion isn’t there for it, then maybe it’s OK to move on and stop worrying about it.

Here’s the cool part. I’ve learned enough to get by or to get someone else to do the cooking. I also love making the setting look pretty. The plates, the candles, the napkins. That is what makes me happy. I can also do the clean up! So, problem solved!

Lesson

So my lesson here was that I needed to stop comparing and forcing something that I just wasn’t excited about. Now I don’t feel bad about it anymore. Talk about liberating! Instead, I focus on things that make me happy and that I CAN be good at, and enhance in that area!

Are there things that you feel like you should be better at? That you are hard on yourself about? That you really don’t even like but feel like you NEED to? Is it something that you absolutely must figure out? Or is it something you can give yourself some grace on and just admit you don’t like to do it.

Consider giving yourself that grace! It’s a good feeling.

Cheers!
Leadership, Personal
Are you Optimistic?
- July 7, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
While prepping for a team call, I wanted to think of something to talk about that was relevant right this minute. With all that is going on in the world, I kept coming back to the word “Optimism”. I don’t know about you, but right now I fight each day to stay optimistic! Things are changing and seem so out of our control. The only thing I have control over right now is myself. And I want to remain optimistic.

Here are a few of the items I made a note to talk about tonight. Maybe this will help where ever you are right now.

Limit What you Read and Watch

The news is so daunting right now. Has been for quite some time actually. It’s so bad now that it’s confusing. We aren’t sure what is true and what is not. It has turned extremely political as well, so there is often a lot of anger and passion involved.

I’ve had to watch and read quite a bit to find a source that I am comfortable with. I do not want to be in fear constantly, but I do want to be informed. I recommend finding that news source that you are comfortable with and sticking to it for now. Hopefully with limiting the sources, the messages will not be all over the place and may not be as scary this way.

PLUS we don’t want to be immersed in it all day, because it would be easy to fall in to that. Instead, perhaps pick a time each day, or every few days, that you can catch up. If you skip a few days, I can assure you it will all be there for you to pick right back up when you are ready.

Look back on past experiences

We all have gone through things in our past that seemed scary or perhaps confusing. I remember 911 and how I thought our world was crashing down around us. It was extremely scary. Horrifying really. And so sad. So many lives lost. But I also recall how our country came together after that. It was such horrible loss and devastation, yet it brought us closer together for a period.

Or when I went through a divorce and thought I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel again. Finances were destroyed. Hearts were crushed. I can remember sitting on my knees in my closet crying my eyes out because I was at a complete loss and didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want the children to hear me, so the floor of the dark closet was my hiding place.

Now when I look back over that time in my life I realize that I had to go through all of that to be where I am now. There were blessings that came from the ashes. My faith also became stronger because it was all I had to lean on.

When we realize that we as people, and we as a country, have gone through some dark times, we can find hope that there will be light at the end of this tunnel too. We can hold on to our hope.

Keep it light

Some days all it may take is some laughter. There are so many places to look for funny people, or that funny pet video. YouTube, TikTok, or maybe a show that always brings a smile. When I’m finding it hard to smile, I know I can turn on an old episode of Will & Grace and I will be laughing again in no time.

Laughter is truly the best medicine.

Make it about someone else

Have you noticed that when you are helping someone else, you aren’t thinking of yourself? Check in on your neighbor. Find a charity in your area that may need some assistance during this hard time.

You can practice random acts of kindness too! Leave a gift for your UPS or FedEx driver. Or send a handwritten note in the mail.

Support your local business

We’ve been saying this one for months. Be supportive of your local businesses that are doing their best to stay open during this time. Whether it’s take out dining, or just stopping in to shop with them. Maybe you have a friend in the Direct Sales business that you could have an online party for! Or maybe you share about someones local business on social media showing your support.

Do a themed gift exchange

One of my local friends started a Facebook group where we could drop little care packages off at one anothers door. We provide everyone with our address and someone would randomly choose you to drop off a bag at your door. Ours was called “You’ve been BUZZED”. We could add a favorite alcohol in ours, since we are all grown ups in our exchange. It was so fun and we made new friends that we didn’t know before. We communicated through FB, so there was no social distancing required. The gift was simply dropped at the door.

Do that thing you haven’t had time for

If you are not working during this time, or find yourself with extra time on your hands, take the opportunity to do something that you haven’t had time to do in the past! For me it was to learn more about photography with my iPhone. I have also had the opportunity to arrange and rearrange cabinets and entire rooms!

Above all, find reasons to be grateful.

We will get through this. The key is getting through it while remaining optimistic. Share with us other ways we can remain optimistic during this time!

Peace and love to you!
Personal
One simple lesson
- July 7, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
One of the best lessons I’ve learned in life is if I’m not sure, to wait. This can really be just about anything.
- A new purchase? I can’t decide. Am not sure. Wait and see if I still feel the same a day or two (or even a week) later.
- Invited to do something you aren’t feeling comfortable about. Wait. Don’t feel pressure to respond right then.
- Am super frustrated and want to react. Wait!!
- Not able to explain myself. Maybe I’m in a stressful situation. Wait. You can come back when you are able to think clearly.
Basically, any time I’m in a situation where my head starts spinning and I’m uncomfortable, I feel like I need to react or respond right then. But guess what? I don’t! I’ve learned that if I just wait. Stay quiet. Even pray on it. The right answer will come to me.

I’ve headed off many an argument by waiting to respond. I even mentioned this before in one of my blogs, if we read a comment or get an email that upsets us, the worst thing we can do is react with those emotions. Good typically will not come from that. But, if we wait, then respond with a clear head (and sometimes that means no response at all!), things will go much better.

You’ve heard the phrase “it’s all about how you react”? That’s what I’m talking about! So instead of reacting, try stepping away for a moment (or several) and see how much clearer you become when you do decide to respond.

What about when you are in person and are approached with what needs a response then? Try saying “I need to think about this. I’ll get back to you.” Or “that sounds interesting but let me gather my thoughts.” There is nothing wrong with not giving a response or reaction right on the spot. This can even be when you are invited or asked to do something but you just aren’t sure and feel put on the spot. Perhaps you just say “I really need a moment to think” or “I can’t respond just yet”. You can even say “I need more info before I respond.”

The bottom line is we are responsible for our actions and reactions, so it’s ok to stop and give it some thought. And I highly recommend walking away from responding when you are angry or frustrated. Your response will likely be much different once you’ve calmed down or shifted your thoughts.

What is a lesson you have learned in life that you would like to share? I’d love to hear!!

Cheers and love to you!
Celebration, Personal, Promotions
A shot of POSITIVE!
- May 4, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
All the feels

Today I have all the feels. Though I love what I do and appreciate my business all the time, there are days that it gives me a jolt. There are times when I have to pinch myself to see if it’s real and if I’m truly this fortunate. At this time in our world there is so much going wrong. I’m extremely aware and empathetic. So much so that I hesitate to share my post today, but know I need to.

Nearly NINE years ago I bought a kit and started what would turn out to be my own business. I had no idea that direct sales was really a business. I just thought it was a great way to get a discount on products that you loved to get all the time. After a couple of years in to it, I realized it was much bigger than I would have ever imagined.

Fast forward

Fast forward to now. I’m an Executive Director and working on promoting our team to a Presidential Director team (which is the top of the top!). My income surpassed what I was making in my hospitality career so I was able to resign from that in 2016. I’ve made an incredible amount of wonderful friends. My husband and I have gotten to travel more in the last several years than in our entire lives. It has afforded us choices that we didn’t have before. And on top of all of this, there are a lot of perks that come with my title!

In the event you have EVER thought about starting your own business, I’m here to tell you that Direct Sales is a GREAT option. There is no brick and mortar building and start up cost. No overhead. Only A very small start up kit price to get you going with everything you need. No inventory to have to hang on to unless you want to set up at events or like me, have a small stash to grab when I’m in a pinch and need something for a gift or give away! So basically, no risk. TONS of reward. All you have to do is apply yourself!

Perks

Perks I’ve earned along the way include a fantastic payday every month, custom made Pink Zebra Boots, a Paisley necklace and bracelet, a Pink Diamond tennis bracelet, a crown, free admission to our Reunion, the opportunity to lead at Rallies, to see the Catalog a week or so earlier than everyone (this is a fun perk at the Executive Director level!), an extra treat at our Reunion (2019 we got to take a private plane over the Grand Canyon!), and an upgrade at the reunion hotel when it’s available!

We also all have the opportunity to earn the Pink Sapphire Award, AND an incredible Incentive Trip each year! What I love is that EVERY consultant has the opportunity to do all of these things. Grit and determination, a good game plan, and knowing what your end goal is so that you will stay focused and on track will all help you achieve these things! And the best part is that if you just want to take a fabulous trip on someone else’s dime and you don’t care much about the rest, you can just focus on that part! It’s all up to you!

So fortunate

And finally, during a time like this when things are so upside down, we have been so fortunate that our Home Office has worked to keep our doors open and continue to serve our customers. We have consultants that are able to pay bills because of their Pink Zebra Business. So for that, I’m so grateful.

So thank you for letting me share a little shot of positive this week. I do know how blessed I am that my friends shared this business opportunity with me, and I’m SO thankful I took it. If there’s any inkling in you that wants to know more, I would love to have a conversation. No pressure at all, just so you have the information to make an informative decision.

If you are having a tough time now, know that our prayers are nonstop and we are ready for our country to get back on track. Love and peace,
Personal, Uncategorized
This Pandemic…
- April 27, 2020
- 0 comments
- by Dana Lea Loukanis
How are you doing? Are you safe and healthy? Those are the questions I hear lately, and quite honestly, they are the ones I’m most often asking as well.

This pandemic is not like anything I’ve experienced in my lifetime. And some have it so much worse than others right now, no doubt. Many of our adjustments may feel extreme, so we can’t discount anyones feelings or fears. Often we hear of someone else’s situation and realize how lucky we truly are. In my home, my husband is still going to work with his crew each day. We are glad because he is able to continue working, but I still worry about him being exposed to the virus. It’s crazy how my mind goes “I’m glad…but I’m worried…gosh I’m so grateful…yet I’m concerned…” It’s a very confusing time.

I’m fortunate that my business has remained open as well. I work from home, so most everything is being done online. I’m so grateful, but once again, my brain fights between “share with everyone so they know!” and “don’t do that because some are really in a bad way!” It’s a constant back and forth in my head. Is anyone else dealing with this?

So during this strange time for all of us, I don’t profess to know how to deal with any of it. It’s confusing. It’s frustrating. I feel grateful. I feel guilty. I want to share good news. I want to stay quiet so I don’t upset anyone. My head literally battles these thoughts all through out the day each day!

Here is what I do know:
- Staying isolated and away from people has been much more difficult than I ever thought it would. Though seeing people on a Zoom call is something, it’s not the same.
- Spending some time outdoors can be a game changer. We don’t realize how sad we are getting when we are staying inside and away from everyone and everything, so when we go outdoors whether to take a walk or ride a bike, it can have a big impact on our mood.
- It’s ok to slow down and actually enjoy it. I’ve always been a planner and going through each day with my hair on fire. In fact, I’d feel a little out of sorts if I wasn’t. But now, I’m realizing that it is OK to slow down and just take things a little slower. I’m actually learning to like going at this new pace.
- It’s ok not to want to organize anything else. LOL
- Don’t feel bad if you snooze some of your friends on Facebook for 30 days. That option is fantastic! I’ve not used it before, but during this Pandemic I have used this feature a few times! If there is someone spewing a lot of negative right now, hit that “snooze” for 30 day feature.
- Speaking of negative, it’s good to avoid a lot of it right now. I’ve stopped watching the news every day. At first I had it on constantly. Then it was just once a day. Now I will listen in every few days. I’m sure someone will alert me if there is something urgent I need to know about. I want to stay up on what is going on, but it was really doing a number on my outlook.
- If you hate cooking, don’t feel bad that you aren’t using this time to learn how to… LOL (That one is just a funny for me. Everyone was posting about using this time to learn to cook, or learn new recipes, blah blah blah NO.)
- I miss my family. I feel bad saying that because I know some can’t get away from theirs. See? Here we go again with my mind!
So as you can see, I don’t know a lot. I know enough to get through my days, while remaining mentally in a decent place. Doing the things that will help me stay positive. We have to take care of what we can right now, and give ourselves grace for the rest of it.

If you have any tips you’d like to share, I’d love to hear! I pray that you are able to stay safe, that you are healthy, and that you are able to keep a smile on your face for the most part! I keep hearing people say that “we will get through this together” and I believe that 100%. We are still together, even though we may not feel like it right now. And maybe, just maybe, we will have learned a bit about ourselves along the way. If nothing else, I hope you can find something to laugh about. Even if (like me) it’s at yourself. Laughter is still some of the best medicine there is.

Love and peace to you,

on

Personal

A post on FB

Grace

Never fails

Be kind

January 2021!

Works for me!

Full Moon?

So what do we do?

It CAN be that easy!

Not a good cook

It’s OK!

Come to terms

Lesson

Limit What you Read and Watch

Look back on past experiences

Keep it light

Make it about someone else

Support your local business

Do a themed gift exchange

Do that thing you haven’t had time for

Above all, find reasons to be grateful.

All the feels

Fast forward

Perks

So fortunate

How are you doing? Are you safe and healthy? Those are the questions I hear lately, and quite honestly, they are the ones I’m most often asking as well.

Here is what I do know:

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