“When nothing goes right . . . . go left.”

These days, there are a lot of unanswered questions floating around about our future and what that may or may not look like. I’ve gotten to the point where I can’t really, well, I don’t really want to spend anymore time or energy trying to figure it out. I have no control over what’s going to happen with our government. I have no control over how our politicians are going to decide the state of our country and it’s people’s welfare. And I most certainly have no control of COVID.

I’m concerned about whether I’m going to be able to continue working in my present profession because of COVID, the fear and apprehension it has created, and the limitations and restrictions that have been mandated and enforced. Some of us are concerned about our health and our mortality. Most of us are having to re-adjust, revise, reassess, rethink, reassure, re-evaluate . . . . all of these ‘re-’ things are making my head hurt. Everything seems to become more amplified!

The world outside of my world seems to be closing in on me. It’s gotten a lot more personal, creeping into my space. I sometimes feel like I’ve gone into survival mode and my brain starts over-thinking, going into that ‘hamster running 100 miles a minute on that little metal wheel going nowhere’ mode. It’s stressful! I start feeling all overly-sensitive. The one brain cell I have left starts cramping, my adrenaline goes into overdrive, and I not only start driving myself crazy, I feel it necessary to take everyone else along with me.

It affects my relationships and my family. I have to pay more attention to keeping all of that “stuff” outside of my work space. It even affects my eating and sleeping! It creeps into everything and everyone around me.

This, is not good! So in re-evaluating, re-assessing, re-adjusting, and revising, I’ve decided that the best way for me to move forward is to choose a different direction. Oh I’m still very active in keeping myself informed of current events, but I’m not going to let that consume me. Like the quote I used for the title of my blog says, “When nothing goes right . . . . go left.”

I have control over making this choice. It’s personal, and I don’t expect everyone else to ‘hop on my wagon’, but I feel better about my days, my future doesn’t look so bleak, and I’m making choices that help me to be in a better space.

• I accept each day as a brand new day. I would rather be an optimist.

• I accept that I am responsible for me and how I choose to interact with others, and the world outside of myself. I cannot control the actions, thoughts, and feelings of others. I cannot control current events. To what degree am I going to allow that to impact me? I have a choice in deciding that.

• I choose to be open and listen. I try not to take things personally, after all, it’s not always all about me. And, I may learn something.

• I choose to accept that I am not always going to complete everything I planned on doing on any given day and that’s okay. It’ll still be there tomorrow.

• I accept that it’s okay to give myself some “down time”. That helps me reset when I start feeling the weight of everything closing in.

• I choose to be happy and appreciate the humor in life. I accept each day and it’s challenges with optimism and I spend quality time with family whether it’s just sitting quietly together, playing games, or watching a show. Sometimes, most times, it’s the little things that we do together that bring us closer.

• I choose to appreciate that I get to go to work. I love my work! And I’ve made a choice to find ways to continue doing “The Work”, whatever that may look like.

I’ve made a choice to look at, and appreciate, the positive instead of focusing on the negative through this time of chaos, uncertainty, and confusion. I appreciate what I’ve learned and experienced, through this tumultuous time, which has given me a better understanding of myself. This has helped me to better understand others, as well.

Now that I’ve said my piece, I would say, “When going right no longer serves you . . . . go left!” I encourage you to try “going left”. It’s easier said than done, that’s for sure, and it can be challenging in so many ways but . . . . it can also be very rewarding!

In love and light . . . . be safe, enjoy life, and remember to laugh! It’s good for the soul.