A New Normal… Sort Of

A NEW NORMAL… sort of

I’m moving back to my old morning routine.  It took a while for me to create a good morning routine that would tick all the boxes for me.  I wanted to nourish my soul and body as well as infuse inspiration or wisdom first thing.  As I researched, I discovered the 20/20/20 routine and thought it made good sense, so I decided to try it. After a few tweaks, I adopted it; twenty minutes of meditation, twenty minutes of yoga and twenty minutes listening or watching something inspiring.  It was working pretty well when news of the virus started coming through at the beginning of March.  

With news of the virus spreading to the United States, I altered my routine as I do during hurricane season to check basic statistics and information coming in over night, however after three weeks of tracking and researching, I’ve  concluded that at least for now, we have done all we can and are in waiting mode.  So yesterday, I decided to resume my 20/20/20 routine.  I won’t be checking my news sources until AFTER my morning routine, I won’t be spending any more time researching, trying to follow the statistics (which are woefully inaccurate so no real tracking can be done) and I plan to focus my attention, instead toward spending quality time with my family and creating content for you.

Through my experience weathering hurricanes over the years, I have learned not to spend my time glued to the television.  I found a weather app from NOAA which allows me to track the storm without the sensational coverage mainstream media provides. I check in to the news only to check for business closings and other details that might be important.  THEN I TURN OFF THE TV.

Over the past three weeks, I’ve learned about viruses and how they attack the human body, how certain types of viruses cross from animals to humans, and about wet markets in China.  I’ve learned how scientists track outbreaks and how countries across the globe are responding. Seeing how this virus started and its vast spread is stunning.  I’ve learned to clean and quarantine an infectious person in my home, though knock on wood, I haven’t had to do it.  Here to fore, we have been blessed to have been a pretty healthy family,  again,.

I have been deeply touched by people the world over who are battling this pandemic, as well as being deeply disappointed in how people have handled their response to the outbreak as well.  And like many of us, I spend time praying for all of us.

Through difficult events, learn what we are made of and we learn to live with uncertainly.  I remind myself that life is uncertain, and is changing all the time.  I am reminded that the reason we meditate and pray is to connect with the loving power of God for the strength, courage and wisdom to lean into each day as it unfolds.  Life offers no guarantees.

The world has seen pandemics and plagues before and somehow humanity has survived them.  As a child I remember being told about the many diseases we no longer have because of advances in science and medicine.  We are making unprecedented strides, though they will never be quick enough to address the surge we are experiencing right now.  None the less, the strides that are being made right now in testing are nothing short of miraculous, as are the discoveries being made to cure the disease for the sort term while longer term options are developed.

As I contemplate my morning routine,  I am reminded that starting the day having tuned to the Beloved, even just for a few minutes helps shape my ability to cope with what comes my way each day.  If you haven’t figured out a comforting morning routine, I urge you to consider starting your new normal. 

Figure out what nurtures your soul, and do that for yourself each day. 

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