We are living through a pandemic. Businesses and schools are shut down. Parks and playgrounds vacant. We are coming together to flatten the curve of this deadly virus and are doing so on a global level. It is nothing we thought we would ever live through. And it's hard. I mean, as Rachel Hollis reminded me the other day, it's actually inconvenient. There are many more hardships that exist out there and there are people living through this pandemic experiencing things I would never, ever want to know about.

Perspective. We all have lived experiences. And I am trying to wade my way through these days and weeks and months attempting to be anchored in JOY and attempting to block out some of the not so joyful stuff. And I get it. Surface level there is nothing to be joyful about. Incredible human loss. People are sick and those people who are not sick are scared and worried and panic buying toilet paper.

But I have been intentionally working on that inner critic brain for the past several years. So please don't misunderstand my desire to see the good, to ground in the positive and to continue to work and grow through this painful period as lack of empathy. Believe me when I tell you I have my moments. My heart is not made of stone and during the quiet moments Rob hears my fears and my anxiety. But I truly feel as though I am here and have been here, doing this work to help people through some of their darkest moments. Now included.

We can't wave a magic wand and be done with it. We can't control any of it. But I think the reason why so many people find themselves panic buying toilet paper, perhaps overspending or hoarding (psst nobody gets to judge anyone else's family needs) I mean Rob spent the most we have ever spent in a single day yesterday between Costco and the grocery store but we don't plan to go back again for a few weeks. So maybe it looked like he was panic buying fajitas wraps when he threw 4 in the cart. They were probably 2 for something (the Gillis fam loves a deal).t

I digress.

My point? The shopping, the closet cleaning, the workouts, the yard work, the walks and getting out, the cooking and baking. It all allows us to feel some sort of control during these times. And with control and normalcy comes energy and happiness and although the virus is a contagion we are all wanting to avoid, Emotional Contagion is a real thing too. So yes, physically distance ourselves but emotionally and socially stay connected, stay grounded, be kind to each other and control what you can control.

And then pass that happiness on! Because I truly believe that even though all of this is inconvenient and we all want to return to life like it was before, I don't think life will return to the way it was before. I think many people will come out of this feeling a shift, placing importance on things other than the materialistic realities that we were allowing to rule our lives. And yes, I know, many THINGS will return. But I believe that the things people took for granted like time with loved ones, dinner with family, hugs from parents and grandparents and family members outside of our homes, those little things that we assumed would always be there, they are cherished and the things we miss the most.

xo Christine