Unprecedented Times

I’m dusting off the cobwebs, as this is my first post in over a month! While I had been writing on a consistent basis (approximately 99 posts in the past year and a half), these unprecedented times got to me, y’all. So with this 100th blog post, I’m checking in to share some insights that I’ve gained along the way. 

Unprecedented? That’s an understatement…

I’ve been in the mental health profession for about 5 years and 2020 has been without a doubt the most challenging, enlightening, inspiring, terrifying, and fulfilling season of both my professional and personal life. On one hand, I’ve been able to serve on the front lines, as the need for mental health services has skyrocketed since the Coronavirus Lockdown in the United States. Simultaneously, I have had my heart shredded to pieces as our nation tries to grapple with inequality, police brutality, systemic racism, and inadequate leadership.

We still have a lot of unanswered questions with regards to working from home, quarantine fatigue, COVID19, the economy, homeschooling, an upcoming election, and how to advance social justice in our communities. It’s a lot!

What have I learned along the way?

These days, self-care is literally the difference between survival and self-destruction. As my therapy caseload fills and my waiting list grows, the following have been my go-to self-care strategies:

  • Reading: Books, audiobooks, and newspapers (within moderation)
  • Exercise: I run twice a day, totaling at least 5 miles daily.
  • Therapy: I’ve been talking to my therapist weekly.
  • Hobbies: I’ve been learning some new crafts, have been doing work around the house, and have begun a DIY journey to dreadlock my hair.
  • Family: Yes, being cooped up with family for months at a time gets to all of us, but I’ve enjoyed watching my daughter grow before my very eyes; in fact, more than half her life has occurred during this pandemic.

So what do we do?

We keep on keepin’ on. We take precautions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. We speak up to injustice. We practice gratitude. We show kindness and compassion within our realm of influence. Radical acceptance has been a skill that I’ve needed to sharpen during this season. Definitely much easier said than done!

Take care and thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this content, feel free to buy me a coffee to support the blog and podcast.

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