2020 was born. Finally, the roaring 20’s, supposedly full of promise, zest, and flat champagne. 2020 bombed, hard.

A pandemic demanded we all seek shelter, mask up, and play the role of doomsday-ers. And the revolving door of emotions has flooded each individual’s psyche differently, I imagine. At first, I was secretly thrilled. A few weeks off of my rushed morning commute, more time with loved ones, and an overall slower roll was more than enticing. Although, after the June 10th stay-at-home order was set in stone, I caught the quarantine itch. I began feeling the same sense of complacency, helplessness, and gloom many Americans have been battling. If any of these feelings resonate with you, keep reading.

This nasty outbreak has thrust us back to the basics and forced us to seek out the healing silver linings. I’m sharing a few wholesome practices I either witnessed or implemented myself that I plan to keep up once the doors open and our world returns to its regularly scheduled programming. Let me gently remind you, these are not solutions, just a handful of glass-half-full suggestions.

Daily Walks, Runs, Bike Rides:

I can’t even fathom the days I willingly chose three hours of Instagram scrolling and The Office reruns over a hazy, sienna-colored, sunset stroll. There is something calming and nourishing to your spirit when you treat yourself (and your dog) to consistent exercise. The highlight of my days are usually waving to the old, the young, the families of four, or mom and daughter doing the same.

Booze:

Half joking here… although it does pair well with the evening walks. But seriously, I’ve loved taste testing underrated wines, craft beers, and homemade cocktails with dinner. It’s become an unintentional on-the-job to off-the-clock transition, conversation starter, and overall mood booster.

Birthday Parades… or really using any excuse to have an in-person conversation:

We had clearly forgotten the value of an in-person chat until that privilege was stripped from us. Wishing loved ones a happy birthday through a blue text with confetti bursting on the screen should never have cut it. Maya Angelou once said “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” and well, we often never made the effort to be around people enough to invoke any feelings in them at all. I can’t remember the last time I drove to a loved one’s house just to wish them a happy birthday, celebrate a special occasion, or catch up. This is a good one, it matters. I think this may even beat sending cards in the mail.

Local Local Local:

Social media do-gooders deserve the credit for this lifestyle change.

I’ve always been inspired to shop local when it comes to produce, and my Sunday morning rendezvous to the farmers market was the age old recipe for a nourishing and pure start to the week. Unfortunately my shop local persona stopped there. It wasn’t until Queen Corona took charge and friends began promoting their tried-and-true local shops on social platforms that my consumer lens shifted. I’ve uncovered multiple small businesses that I adore and plan to support well past quarantine. If you’re looking to do the same, I’m linking a few of my favorites here:

Imogene + Willie - Incredible and unique Nashville based clothing brand with kick-ass tees and premium denim. I just ordered their hand-painted “stay home” tee.

Brookeville Beer Farm - This garden nursery turned beer farm is my family’s second home most weekends. With alternating food trucks, picnic tables, and live music humming alongside Route 97, I can only daydream about my next evening on the farm. Until then, I’ll be preaching curbside pick-up methods (my favorite brews are Corny Uncle, Interdependence, and Yellow Finch).

Bare Performance Nutrition - Veteran owned performance supplement company. I already need a refill on the Strong Greens. Not only do their supplements actually taste delicious, but the CEO and Founder himself has taken the time to DM me back and offer discounts to any product on their website. Talk about building brand loyalty.

Trident Coffee - Another veteran owned shop on my list, this easygoing Imperial Beach shop produces some of the best cold brew I’ve ever had. Yes, Starbucks is not even in the same arena as these guys. On top of getting my on-tap cold brew fix from Trident most mornings, every bag of specialty roasted coffee beans purchased = a bag donated to first responders and personnel on the front lines of combating COVID-19. You can even have your Instagram handle put on the bag donated so those front line warriors can put a face (or profile picture) to a name!

About Time

I miss the routine and structure of my pre-corona life some days. However, I adamantly do not miss the stress, the worry, or the anxiety-ridden association of time I used to play victim to. I’ve come to take responsibility for my time and what I choose to do with it, and I’ve noticed a lot of you have too. I no longer shame myself for waking up 10 minutes late or work through lunch and rush to log off at 4:30 sharp. The goal is to intentionally feed the time I have, rather than loathe its presence.

For some of us, these times are far from enjoyable. And I will be the first to admit that I have been blessed in many ways over the past two months. I hope these tidbits may encourage you, whatever your circumstances may be. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones as the world navigates this unfamiliar terrain ahead. The sun will come out tomorrow.