Wellness Wednesday
Today for Wellness Wednesday I want to discuss what are some things have helped to maintain wellness in our day to day lives. Honestly, 2020 hasn’t been the best year to make improvements to our well-being. Through shutdowns, unemployment, reduced wages, virus fears, kids out of school, distance learning, TP shortages, and too much junk food; 2020 has been a tough year to navigate. This year has also been harder on some more than others. Some have lost loved ones, some have lost jobs and others have lost businesses. Kids missing the benefits of in person education; seeing failure rates in some areas increase by 110% and also seeing mental health in decline. Witnessing increased depression rates, suicide rates, crime, domestic violence. These unintended side effects of lockdowns and closures. Social distancing creates fear, masks create fear and dehumanizes people. So my question is this, what are some things you have found to create more wellness in you and your families lives?
Something I have tried to do to uphold my mental wellbeing is, in part, what you are reading here today. I have tried to utilize my writing as a way to feel productive and that I am contributing something to society. I think it is hard to feel connected to the larger part of our communities and society because of the convenience of technology. We find it easy to send a text and continue on with our day but how many times does the recipient feel like they are a burden or an inconvenience that only deserves a quick text message. While this is not the intent it can be the perception. I, personally have been trying to engage more with people while it may be though social media, trying to give meaningful engagement to those on my friends list is my goal. I do it in the hopes it may make a day a bit better or a bit brighter.
There are times I have trouble staying motivated which is a tough place to be. Whether it is because I get impatient with the process or because I have a failure or setback, I will lose my way. Many times it will take weeks to regain the mentality I need to continue on with my journey. I don’t fail well but I am getting better at it. Not saying is becoming more enjoyable because it isn’t. What I am saying is my failures are becoming a tool for learning, learning what works for me and what doesn’t. I have to constantly remind myself that we learn the most when things go wrong and not when things go perfectly to plan.
I hope today brings a new sense of purpose for you, maybe a new perception on what it is we can do each day to make this day a little better than the last. Stay well my friends and have a very Happy Thanksgiving. We will be releasing our second episode of The Elk Weekender podcast on Friday, November 27, 2020. I hope you can tune in as we discuss all things American.
