One of the most difficult parts of this crisis is the uncertainty. There are so many variables that are unknown. But, as of yesterday, we at least know this: We will all be sheltering in place for another month.
Before the announcement, I gathered this would be the case, as I am sure you did too. Every medical expert out there has been telling us all along there is not yet an end in sight. So, although it wasn’t a shock, what did surprise me was how down it made me feel. I’m not sure if it was the realization that my Mom and boys really won’t be able to come visit us for Easter or if was just the thought of not much to look forward to for quite sometime. Whatever the exact thought was, it sent me into a tail spin that felt dark and glum. I’m noticing my mood, which is typically pretty upbeat and relatively consistent, seems all over the board recently and I’m hearing the same experience from many others. I spent most of the afternoon allowing myself to stay in that blah feeling, which of course, led to more down feelings. Darin and I did what many Americans did last night……..we started the new season of Ozark and went to bed.
The interesting part happened this morning. I woke up really early, before my alarm even went off. In the pitch dark, the very first thought that came to me was:
You. Have. So. Much. To. Be. Grateful. For.
It was as clear as if someone were speaking it to me….and I instantly knew I had some work to do. Not physical work, but mental and spiritual work to get myself in the right perspective. Writing can be a powerful outlet. Putting my thoughts on “paper” (digital really, but you know what I mean!) helps them to become real and much easier for me to sort through. So I got up and started a list of all the good that has come out of this not-so-good situation. Once I started, the thoughts just poured out onto my keyboard. All the way from gratitude for not only get to continue leading my WW Workshops, but now, because we are virtual, getting connect and reconnect with people from all over the country that I have missed dearly, to a strong since of gratitude for the good health of my family, regardless of the miles of distance between us. There were 32 items listed in between when I stopped!! And I could have kept going but I had to get ready for work!!!
Today is a good day. Not because something happened to make it good but because I DECIDED TO SEE THE GOOD. We truly don’t have to wait for someone else or something else to make us feel better. No matter what the situation, LOVE is present, we just have to look for it. As I think about the millions of people who are staying home, just like I am, it fills my heart. We are not just staying home because we don’t want to get sick. We are staying home because we care enough about others that we don’t want to make them sick either. What a HUGE act of LOVE and SELFLESSNESS going on all around us. So beautiful really, isn’t it?
The point of my post today is this: If you are feeling like your emotions are all over the board, you’re not alone. We are not alone. As a matter of fact, I feel like we, as Americans, are more together, more united in many ways, than we have been in a long time. We are not powerless. We each have the power to shift our thoughts from heavy, dark ones to ones that feel good. The best way I can find to exercise my power is to step into gratitude, no matter how challenging it seems at first. As I typed the first couple of things I was grateful for, they were mainly words on the screen…but as I continued the list, those words became feelings welled up inside me and they literally changed my entire perspective. It was as if a spot light was shone in the dark and I could see brightly how blessed I am and it felt good. We are all blessed and we can all feel good. Getting to a place of Love in our thoughts is not just about us. We can do for our communities and those around us. When we feel good, we want to share it. Our thoughts become open to how we can help. We don’t shrink and hide or get caught up in all the negativity that isn’t productive. Taking the steps to put ourselves in a place where we can feel divine Love and express it gives meaning to our day and our joy can’t help but spill over into the lives of those around us.
I have an ask of you……In this post, I’d love to create a huge list of “good things” we are all experiencing !!! If you could list one good thing of your own (or as many as you like!) in a comment below, it will be so fun for all of us to read each other’s. And as new readers join the site, it will be an inspiration to them! I wonder how many blessings we could collectively list?? Please help! You can’t use the excuse of having no time…
All is well❤️
Love,
Terra
Terra Ayres,
Wellness Coach
Hi Terra, thank you for your inspiring blog. Chris and I miss you in Schaumburg. I am thankful
for my health and a sound mind and Eternal Life in Christ. We were in Fl. for three months and after our return I have not gone back to WW. Please don’t deleat me from your Blog….your enthusiasm is so refreshing and encouraging! Blessings and best wishes to you.
So good to hear from you, Helen! And no worries…I would never remove you from receiving my blog posts! Really happy you like receiving them!
I always love reading your pages. I am grateful that I have wonderful children that want to help keep us in the house. I am blessed. I’m going to find you meeting and come.
Sandi! Can’t wait to catch up with you in a virual WW workshop!! Thanks for reading my posts! And I second… you do have wonderful children!!!
Im grateful for spending more time with my extended family. We are using Zoom to have family cocktail parties My sisters, their children and grandchildren all join in on Sunday evenings. We are in NC, NYC, Boston, upstate NY. It’s wonderful to see everyone at once. Try it, it’s easy to do.
I also was up early and wrote this-probably a dream for the future
Peace
Beauty
Love
Joy
Laughter
Shimmering
Glowing
Encompassing
Our
World
Hey Terra also one of my dogs looks almost identical to one of yours.
Thankful
Beautiful, Ni! I bought your book and it’s beautiful too Love those s❤️
Thanks for a great post. It’s like you were inside my head last night. Your wonderful enthusiasm is so uplifting! I am so grateful w a wonderful family that checks on each other every day. Terrific kids. And thank you for tech that allows us to keep in touch. Stay well.
I’m grateful for everything. My family, my friends, WW virtual workshops, social media to keep in touch with long distance friends and family. I’m also going to look for your virtual meetings now Terra in California and join one as well as my regular one here in Illinois because I miss you. Plus it’s going to be fun to sit in one of your meetings as though I was actually in California going to one live. Take care, see you soon (in the virtual world)
No plane ticket needed, right?? Haha See you soon!! If you need my schedule, let me know
Well first of all I LOVE that I can come to your meetings! I will truly miss that when this ends. Next I LOVE that all (14) of my grandchildren are eating dinner with their parents and siblings every evening. That hasn’t happened since the very first soccer game about 12 years ago. Also I have a few girlfriends with whom I play phone tag and when we do connect the time is never really good for one of us. Now they are always available to chat and no one is really rushed. I think the biggest lesson all of us should learn from this whole experience is that we should SLOW DOWN and maybe even say “no” a little more often.
I agree , Alice. Such a good lesson in slowing down & spending time with each other…even if it’s virtually
Good morning. I am thankful for a special friend who keeps me grounded by sending a daily devotion to me every morning. I am also thankful for the ability to still see my son (not his daughter they are very cautious) and my daughter and her family. Also for the connections with neighbors who are always out walking now. So many smiles, so much honest laughter, and watching families working together in their yards. Takes me back to the 1960’s when I was a child and neighbors were always out visiting, working together, and enjoying life. Thank you Terra for your posts and for the encouragement.
Loving the friendliness too. Thanks for sharing, Kathleen
Terra, I loved this post. I am grateful for our beautiful area, which as newcomers we are still exploring. I am also grateful for the time to connect with friends I have not spoken to for a while, when life was too busy. I like that life is not “too busy”.
Agreed!! Thanks, Lori!!
Hello my friend! Miss the old Geneva days. We’ve been living “On Cape” for 9 months now. Near my elderly mom, siblings and dear friends. Far from my grown children and grandchildren but flights and FaceTime had always been our “connection”. Cancelled flights and missing our grand babies hugs has made me sad. Also, sad we lost our 11 yr. old pup, Murphy in Jan. But… I have been SO GRATEFUL that we live 1/2 mile from amazing beaches to walk! I have been loved on by hundreds of adorable pups walking along the beach the past few weeks! My daily JOY!
Also, LOVE my WW tribe here and the virtual workshops!
Thanks, Cathy❤️ Grateful WW brought us together!!
Love this post today, and so true about what’s needed right now-gratitude, Love, and prayers. I’m so grateful the way people are finding ways to help each other. It seems this shelter in place, has extended often to mean to shelter others in place of yourself. People are finding ways to give. My work has not closed, so my daily routine still seems normal but there is always prayerful work to be done to protect myself and those around me.
So one fun thing I am grateful for is a that a fox family has moved into my backyard. She has 5 kits and they shelter under my neighbors shed, but come out to play at various times. I get so much joy out of watching them. The mother fox stands guard, and I admire her protective spirit and ability to manage these 5 kits as they grow. Nature at it’s finest and I get to witness it daily.
“Shelter others in place of yourself”❤️..well said, Trac. Keep posting the fox family videos! So fun to watch on FB
I have so much to be thankful for every day, starting with God’s mercies “which are new every morning; great is His faithfulness!” I’m thankful for my loving hubby, my three adorable puppies, my grandkids who text me and play phone games with me. I’m thankful for the warm, beautiful fire in the fireplace next to me. And coffee! And occasional chocolate! And—health. And—you, Terra. This was such a well-written, encouraging blog. Thank YOU! ❤️
1) While out walking, neighbors now stop and chat (while keeping 6 feet apart, of course). It’s wonderful to have time to just stop and talk.
2) With less cars and planes travelling, I’m hoping climate change and health issues like asthma slows down.
Great to hear from you, Joy☀️ Love both of these!!
Hi Terra..while normally I try to distance myself from technology..I am grateful to technology for the ability to stay connected to family and friends ! Miss you and glad I can come to one of your virtual workshops!
Laura!!! I’d love to catch up!! Can’t wait to see you at a virtual workshop!! Do you have my schedule??
1. I’m learning how to use the phone again – instead of just texting family & friends
2. I get to see and be re-inspired by one of my favorite WW leaders of all time!
That’s SO true! Darin has been living in CA nearly 2 years and I’ve been here 7 mos & last weekend was the first time we ever tried video calling his family. It’s always texts and occasional phone calls. We used the Houseparty app and had a blast!!! Thx for sharing, Christine❤️
Grateful to see all the love being expressed around the world ❤️
Grateful for: having a kind, wise WW leader who takes (and makes) the time and effort to write encouraging posts like this!
Yay…Danielle!! You started off the grateful list!!! Thank you & thank you for your kind words