Embrace challenges

I’ve been MIA on all my social media accounts and to be honest, I like it. Almost every day for several years I’ve looked at my Facebook and Instagram accounts for who knows how many hours. It’s so easy to get lost in all the post and ads. After looking at the posts and ads I start shopping on Amazon for items I saw on the ads. Then I buy things I don’t need. Then I need to find a place for them in my closet or house. That leads me to clean out my closet and declutter rooms throughout my house. I get bored again, get back online and the vicious cycle starts back over. I realized I was wasting my time and money. Since I have a lot of time on my hands right now, I decided to change something up in my life.

My mission is to embrace life and take full advantage of what life has to offer me. First, I had to decide what are my priorities. Second, what I want to gain from this life. Third, what’s my new plan.

As I’ve thought of all these, my family came to mind first. I want to eliminate Facebook and Instagram from my daily routines. Instead, I want to use that time with my family doing quality activities. It’s been difficult to find things to do since my family still needs to isolate until we get the Covid-19 vaccine. We have connected through talking and getting to know you conversation starter cards, played games, and played darts. We’ve also learned about letterboxing (check it out if you’re looking for something new to do with your family). I’ve been using an app with activities to help with brain training. I feel the app has continued my speech-language and occupational therapy.

(Finding letterboxes)

Obviously, mental health is something many are struggling with, even at our house. We’ve dealt with frustration and difficulties navigating safety protocols for me and my family. We’ve missed physically interacting with others. We’ve had several family members and friends affected by COVID-19. I will say that with time, COVID-19 created the opportunity for my family to reprioritize our focus. As a family we’ve read self-help books (other books as well) and discussed them. For a few years we’ve kept the TV off Monday through Friday until after dinner which creates a peaceful environment. We’ve continued leaving off the TV because it has provided time to self-reflect and set new goals. Zoe and I have started journaling together as part of our bedtime routine. We’ve looked at family pictures and talked about our favorite memories.

We’ve incorporated individual exercise and meditation at least 3 times a week. I’m cooking at home 6 days a week, including breakfast and lunch. That is a big deal because I struggle with cooking and getting enough nutrients. On Saturdays, we order food to be delivered or go to a drive thru for lunch and dinner. Our eating habits have changed and I’ve significantly decreased my gastroparesis discomfort and Levi’s been losing weight.

Even though COVID-19 has interrupted my family’s plans for spending more time with extended family and friends, I am thankful we could change our thinking patterns and habits to use this time to better ourselves. I’m thankful Zoe’s can participate in online learning through our school district. She can also attend Code Ninjas classes virtually. I'm thankful for Levi and our marriage. I’m thankful Levi can work from home. I’m thankful I can do my grocery shopping online and have my groceries delivered to my home so I can decrease my exposure to germs. I’m am thankful to our loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me with continued health. I feel as if my new organs have been with me my whole life and they are truly part of me. I believe I finally know what a healthy body feels like. I will ride out this healthy time as far as it will take me. I’m grateful to my donor and their family who donated and loaned these organs to me. I will take great care of them. So, for now I’ll continue to hang with my family and do my best to help others when and how I feel inspired to by our Father in Heaven.