Staying Positive in Uncertain Times

A week and a day ago I was enjoying the start to my long-awaited spring break in my very favorite way –  by venturing out to a new coffeeshop in NYC, meeting up with a friend, and getting some work done while sipping on the most delicious vanilla iced latte and intermingling focus time with idle chit chat.

A week and a day ago, my plan was to do as much relaxing as possible in the coming week, spend less time on my phone and more time reading and writing for pleasure, and get ahead on some schoolwork so I could be ahead once school started.

A week and a day ago, I was wondering how I’d go a whole eight days without seeing my boyfriend, who had quickly changed my world in just under a month.

I was looking forward to the many senior traditions my friends and I always made fun of but of course knew we would do anyway.

I was looking forward to the sweet memories I would make in this final semester in a place and with people that I have come to love so much.

I was looking forward to the ball I would be attending that I always promised myself I would save for senior year. My beautiful princess dress is still hanging in my Georgetown home, but the ball has been canceled for this year, along with every single event that was supposed to happen in the next few months.

 

It’s funny, before I left for spring break, I thought to myself how this semester was unfolding in the most unexpected and wonderful ways. It was supposed to be the best one yet. For the first time in a while, everything was just really really good.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined back then how quickly and totally things would change in just a few short days.

A week ago, we all received notice that we would be continuing our Georgetown education online for at least a few weeks after spring break. The next day, that turned into the whole semester, and they told everyone living on campus that they had to move out by the end of the month. That’s when I knew things would never be the same.

Truth be told, this whole experience has humbled me more than I can convey. Because if anything, it just shows that you can make plans for your life all you want, and have all these expectations and dreams that you are excited to see come to fruition, and suddenly, all of that gets turned on its head when life decides it has other plans.

My world has gone topsy-turvy. Everyone’s has. But I think this is an opportunity. For growth, for appreciation, for connection.

It’s been amazing to see everyone around the world coming together in pure love, support, and compassion as we all collectively struggle to make sense of this strange new reality. Maybe it’s that misery loves company, and there’s a camaraderie that comes from going through something challenging together. Or maybe we all just needed a reason to remember that we’re all in this together.

There’s something beautiful about the hope and resilience that seems to shine resolutely bright amid the often devastating and terrifying news we are inundated with on an hourly basis. There’s something magical about how despite the terror and uncertainty of this time, we continuously see people displaying remarkable courage and selflessness.

 

The truth is, I have absolutely no idea what will happen. Then again, I never really did. All this has shown me is that any feeling of control or stability in one’s life is just an illusion, a story we tell ourselves to prevent fear of the unknown from overtaking us.

But there’s also something liberating about that. About that full surrender and total trust and faith that somehow, things will work out. Because they have to.

It’s not up to us to have all the answers right now. It’s not our job to use a crystal ball and forecast the future. None of us has the capacity to do that with absolute certainty, so why bother with the false act?

I choose to believe there is a higher purpose for all that is happening right now.  That this event will collectively bring the world closer together in a way that nothing else could have. That maybe we all needed this to happen so we could learn some tough lessons before it was too late.

 

What I do know is we will come out of this stronger and infinitely more grateful for all the little things we often forget to feel grateful for. The things that are by no means a given and that make this whole experience a little more bearable.

Our loved ones, our connection to ourselves, our faith in something greater.

Here’s a list of 14 things I am currently so very grateful for.

My health (never ever taking this for granted)

My warm home with everything I need to be comfortable and feel safe

Good food 

Extra time on my hands to use for all the things there’s never enough time for (let me know if you’d like a post on what I’ve been doing with this time)

Hilarious memes about the reality that is online education

My cuddly dog who is LOVING the extra time with us humans

My lovely friends, amazing boyfriend, and caring family

FACETIME (see above; so I never have to feel alone)

Good music (currently really digging Niall Horan, Harry Styles, and Lauv) <3

Delicious French Press coffee in the morning (always such a treat and now I can do it every day 😉 )

Free home workouts (thank you, Fitness Blender, Blogilates, and Yoga with Adriene)

Red wine with dinner (’nuff said)

Funny sitcoms (currently on that How I Met Your Mother kick)

My professors who have been INCREDIBLE in this whole process and are doing everything they can to ease the transition for us, even though this is all crazy new and stressful for them too

My heart goes out to each and every one of you who may be dealing with things I cannot even imagine. My privilege is absolutely not lost on me, and I am doing my best to think of any possible way I can help people whose reality currently looks very different from my own.

I hope you are all safe and healthy. Keep practicing social distancing and washing your hands. We got this. All the love <3

 

Tell me how you’re doing in the comments down below. And always feel free to reach out if you need someone to talk to.