Don't be a Summer Bummer

This year has been a wild ride to say the least and it’s only June. 2020 was going to be my year. From the pandemic, to getting furloughed, to protests, it has been tough to stay positive and see the light at the end of the tunnel. Usually around summertime I have events, weddings, concerts, and parties to look forward to, most of which have been cancelled due social distancing. This year has been going a lot different than expected, yet I am really trying my best to stay optimistic!

My plan was to move to New York in April. I had a new job lined up and my boyfriend and I were days away from signing our lease when they announced a national lockdown. Our plans disintegrated shortly thereafter. The offer from my new job got rescinded and I was stuck in San Diego for the foreseeable future (there are worse places to be stuck I know). I have lived in San Diego since I was 13, went to middle school, high school, and college here so it was time for a change and I was so ready for it. Fast forward to my current situation and we have signed a new lease, I have a new job lined up, and we are all set to move on July 1st. Everything works out when it should and for the best. (Or at least I keep telling myself that to stay sane). Once we move to New York, we hope to explore the city a bit, visit family that lives nearby, and create our own adventures even if that means it’s just the two of us until social distancing rules get lifted. Although New York is still not fully back to normal, I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life. This will be a change from my current day to day, an exciting and challenging time in my career and a new chapter with my boyfriend that we are both extremely ready to take on.

Aside from the move, I have been actively seeking things out in the meantime that keep my spirits high. We just came back from a camping trip with a few of our close friends. We drove up to Northern California and had a weekend filled with s’mores, hiking, fishing, swimming in hot springs and lots of Fireball. It was a much needed escape from the confines of our apartment. I came back feeling much more refreshed by being immersed in nature with no cell service for a few days.

Quarantine has been rough, but I have felt a weird jolt of inspiration during this time. I have been focusing more on my personal blog and taking courses online to learn how I can make it the best it can be and also to prepare me for my new job. There are hundreds of courses offered online that can teach you anything from photoshop, to creating a website, to even learning how to manage your time better. It has been the best use of my time and energy, helping me reach my personal goals and making me feel more fulfilled with this extra time on my hands. I have also developed a structured morning routine, which includes meditation, exercise, journaling, morning coffee and goal setting for the week and month. This down time has been hard on me mentally because I’ve been stuck alone in my thoughts and that can be extremely daunting, but I’ve really been trying to appreciate this time and use it as a form of reflection. It might end up being the best summer yet because of all this time for self growth!