Lessons I learned during a global pandemic

I will never forget the day the world started shutting down.

It was so shocking and still it's shocking honestly. I remember first hearing about Coronavirus and people saying "Oh it's just like the flu it's no big deal" or "Things will never shut down. That would be impossible. Coronavirus is nothing." Boy, were we wrong.

In March 2020, I was in Florida for work and I started feeling super anxious about it all. Especially when I went to Walmart to buy a few things and the shelves were completely empty and lines were all the way to the back of the store. On March 11, 2020, I decided that it was time to fly home just to be safe. I am so thankful I did on that day. That was the infamous day where the NBA shut down and Tom Hanks tested positive for Covid-19. After that, everything shut down.

I remember going through waves of different emotions. I found myself very distracted for some of the time. I was so busy trying to keep my company current on social media and talking with all of the customers online 24/7. I caught myself excited for things like watching Tiger King and baking banana bread or learning new TikTok dances. I was excited to spend a lot of time with my family and pets. I found myself scared at times because we didn't know too much about Coronavirus and what the survival rate was and the long lasting effects were etc.

But most importantly, I found myself feeling lost and anxious 85% of the time. In the beginning, I thought it was only because of the Coronavirus.

No one in this lifetime has ever been through a Global Pandemic. I didn't even know how to think or act. I needed to channel my anxious energy somewhere, so I actually found a 90 Day Challenge from the amazing motivational speaker and author, Rachel Hollis. She gave us assignments and virtual sessions with life lessons. It was more about taking this time to explore self discovery. I did all of the assignments. Everyday I was writing down things I was grateful for. I was writing down "future goals" and my "joy list." When I got to the end of the 90 days... I realized how unhappy I was in my life. I just could never explain the feeling before, but I soon realized I felt unfulfilled in my life.

I always heard the word "anxiety" and heard people say they had it, but I never understood what that meant. During this pandemic, I realized that I have always struggled with anxiety. Before I thought this feeling was just stress, but since I finally had the time to research and actually FEEL my feelings, I soon learned it was anxiety. According to the Mayo Clinic:

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I had the time to actually think about my life and put myself first. I had to make a change.

I started therapy.

I never in my life thought I would ever be in therapy. It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. You have someone in your life that you are completely safe with. I learned so many lessons that I would never learned before. It completely changed my life and the way I function on a day to day basis.

Here are just some of the concepts I learned:

• Set your boundaries
• If you are unhappy in a situation, you are the only person who has the control to change it... Leave
• Spend the most time with people who make you feel AMAZING
• Don't take people and moments for granted
• Pray for guidance, meditate, and do a lot of self care
• Identify what self care means to YOU. For myself, this is watching a reality TV show, eating sushi, doing a face mask, putting my phone down
• Read books
• Journal as much as you want or need to
• Make sure you are always checking in and being honest with yourself

I cut out toxic relationships. I switched jobs. I changed my exercise and eating habits. I started meditating everyday.

I changed my outlook on life.

I would have never learned these lessons if it weren't for the time off we had during the Coronavirus pandemic. I feel "woke." It is so important to grow and evolve as human beings in every stage of life or else you will be feel stuck.

The most important take away from this all: Mental health is important.