So long, 2020…
I’m not going to lie; I’m really glad that 2020 is over.
The stress of the pandemic was a lot to deal with. From social isolation to figuring out new ways to work to the fear of going to the grocery store, stress was packed into every day — and I was fortunate enough not to be dealing with ailing parents, homeschooling children or being out of work.
But then at the beginning of November, it got more difficult when I broke my elbow. It wasn’t just physical pain, it was the constant discomfort of an unwieldy brace that was impossible to sleep in. I was unable to do things for myself and had to rely on other people (e.g., to cook, drive me to the doctor, wash my hair, open a pill bottle, etc). I had to inconvenience clients. I wasn’t my reliable, independent self, and I didn’t like it.
After several weeks of trying to keep a positive outlook and reporting the things I was grateful for, I was on a call with friends and got teary-eyed and said “this is hard.” They seem to breathe a collective sigh of relief that I had finally allowed myself to admit it. I guess I’d been going on about how grateful I was for all the support and how the elbow had helped me slow down and be more present. When really, my friends knew it was tough and were waiting for me not to cover it up or apologize for it.
2020, like my broken elbow, has been hard. And I do know that despite the difficulties, there have been gifts from the pandemic and there are things to be grateful for. But on the days when you’re having trouble seeing what those silver linings are, you don’t have to shame yourself for not feeling grateful every moment. Because this is hard.
The good news is, we can do hard things. (Any Glennon Doyle fans out there?)
While 2020 is over, the pandemic isn’t. So keep hanging on while finding new ways to take care of yourself. When in doubt, double down on your self-care and experiment with new healthy behaviors and routines (which may include asking for help). And if you’re having a bad day, you can try counting your blessings or go for a walk — or you can phone a friend and say “this is hard” and then go take a nap.
Wishing you the strength and courage to co-create a 2021 that is full of health, ease and prosperity.
p.s. As always, your comments are welcome on this post at https://www.facebook.com/jenfrankcoaching.
p.p.s. If you need help getting some clarity around your career direction so you come out of the pandemic feeling confident, I have an online career coaching group starting in the 2nd half of January — and there is one spot left. Contact me for more information, and see: https://jenfrankcoaching.com/career-group/