Lessons from the Pandemic

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Dear Readers, What the pandemic has taught me.

Summer 2020 Atlantic city

Before the pandemic I had no idea how out of touch with reality I was. My reality a year ago was grinding and not making much progress in areas of my life that truly mattered. I was on a treadmill moving, but going nowhere, or at least I wasn’t seeing the progress for my efforts. I can’t be the only one emerging out of this pandemic a changed person. There is a saying that “ there is a blessing in the storm.” What has happened to this world was more than a bad storm, and regardless of whether our government withheld information about this virus, it came, destroyed, changed course and hit us with a second wave. It’s been 1 years and 2 months, and  we continue to struggle. Although we may have lifted ourselves above the eye of this pandemic there are people who are unable to pick up the pieces and move forward for various reasons. I have used all the available resources to ensure my mental and emotional health. Summer is coming and I looked forward to being outdoors as much as possible. I am thankful for the down time, peace and space to reflect on life. I have pressed the reset button here is what the pandemic has taught me.

1. I am not going back to the same work grind. 

2. I realize I can live on less and save more ( had time to reflect on the ways I was wasting money). 

3. I have a  plan for retirement that’s achievable ( before the pandemic I had no idea how to retire or what was needed to have a successful retirement ). 

4. I am finally in a position to change careers. During the pandemic I took advantage of online classes acquiring the needed certification for my new career. 

5. I will stop delaying traveling starting with this year’s  ( 2021) cross country drive from New York City to California. This has been on my bucket list for 15 years. And yes, I will be blogging about this experience. 

6. I will no longer deny myself any pleasure things like dining out, Broadway plays, weekend getaway, spa treatments, girls night out, spending the holidays with my mother ( she lives in South Carolina).

7. Finally going to adopt a dog I have been wanting to do this for years.I live alone and will welcome a 4 legged companion. I went through the pandemic home alone and it was difficult.

Most importantly, I am kinder to myself. Right now I am happier and peaceful than I have been in years. I am looking forward to the future with better clarity and with an achievable plan. 

To the people of  the blogging community remember this W.I. N. think about What’s Important Now?

Summer 2018 in California

Summer 2020

Thank you for stopping by dragthepen

Storms’ come to make you

Dear Readers, My name is J. R. Floyd the creator of Drathepen, the author of “The Waiting Game & a different Flavor of Love”.  My latest accomplishment is my YouTube channel Conversations with J. R. Floyd, dedicated to discussing issues that impact our relationships, men & women empowerment,  and exploring the destruction of the family. This year ( 2020) I challenged my readers to join me as I write Letters to Self. Each month I pick a topic and write a letter to self that I share on live streaming on Facebook and  You tube. Thus far, I have read Jan, Dear 2019, a farewell to the old year, February was Dear Love, March ,Dear Life, and below is the letter for April. this letter is to the people who support me,nand for all the people who are holding onto the end of their rope.

            

 

Dear, supporters, viewers, and readers, this is for you. What do you do when life constantly hits you with storms from all sides? I am currently at the start of what could develop into a mega storm, but I refused to lay down and be drowned by the waves of fear, anger and worry.  I am fighting back. I had plans for the way 2020, but it seems I am getting off to a slow and rough start. I know what you’re saying, we are only four months into the new year, give it some time and things will turn around. Yeah, OK, there might be some truth in that advice, but  time waits for no one and if I don’t get up now and revise my plans the year might turn out to be like all the other years when I waited and waited for change that did not come. Before my transformation into living life with better clarity, purpose and vision the old me would have laid down and allowed the world to stomp on me. I allowed the naysayers and the negative conversation in my head to convince me that my goals ain’t worth pushing through the obstacles that come to steal my joy.

 I won’t be satisfied living through another year sitting on the sideline whining and blaming life for what it did not bring to me. And, yes, it is mentally, emotionally, physically draining and disappointing to sit down, plot out a plan, craft a vision board, and set everything in motion only to be blocked by problem after problem. For a moment I did cease all activity. I folded my arms like a two year old and stomped my feet. So, after I recovered from my tantrum, I sat down and regrouped. Some deadlines will be pushed back. I will have to dig a little deeper and work more overtime to bring in the extra cash I need for my new video lights, the photo session for my website, for the new mobile phone that I desperately need. 

When in doubt I encourage you to take a moment and think about why you set goals and made plans. When in doubt I am going to continue to believe that I can and will achieve what I set out to do,which is to to continue to make my vision a reality.  I have conquered many mountains to arrive where I am today. I am enjoying the creative person I have become. I appreciate the lessons I am learning while rebuilding my life after three years of loss and devastation. Through all of the darkness I have emerged a better, charmer, happier person with a purpose and vision for my life. I am excited about working on my five year retirement and relocation plan. At this point in my life I do not have the leisure to sit around and whittle my thumbs. This is my chance, my time, my opportunity to achieve all the things that I have pushed back, rescheduled, and given up on because I thought they were unreachable and that I wasn’t worthy of living my best life. I no longer hold other people accountable for my happiness. I set expectations for myself and hold myself responsible. And, yes, with all of life’s ups and downs there can be better days. I look back on the downtime as lessons towards brighter days. I wake up each morning looking forward to life because I finally have the chance to make my life the way I want it to be. Everyday isn’t perfect and that’s okay. 

I am here to tell you that storms pass, and no matter the destruction they leave behind there is always a reason to be thankful and the chance to reflect, rebuild, and discover something new.

 

Thank you for stopping by dragthepen.