QuaranDREAMS

You ever have that strange inane surge to start writing? Like a random buzz in your brain, begging your hypothalamus telling you, “hey, in order to maintain homeostasis, this chick right here must write.” Or here’s another analogy: Maslow would be flipping somewhere in his grave urging nursing theorists near and far that there is a new, profound sort of need. Not safety, not oxygen, none of that- though to be honest, I can’t live without that. So I do give him major kudos for his accomplishments. However, write now (lol get it), right now writing is that sense of shelter, security, love, air.

So, here we are.

Anyway, I find this alone time to be similar to that of  Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” journey. One of rigor, solitude, adventure, spark– except there is no crazy ride into India and Italy and Indonesia. Just one big ol’ journey in the confines of my home in bumble *bleep*, small town USA. I discovered some pretty interesting stuff during this period of isolation, that I thought maybe some of this could be worth sharing. A tiny gold nugget of goodness. Who knows? Maybe when I look back a day or two from now, or ya know if science surpasses my mind’s capability, I may be a robotic Jess reading this to my robotots in the year 3030.

Life does *somehow* go on despite the mass closures and halts placed on practically everything. If anything in attempts to stop nearly anything and everything, I think my mind, my spiritually, ME, got kicked on into overdrive to a WHOLE. NEW. LEVEL. It’s funky, ya know? I found this to be weird, here me out.

1. It’s okay to not grind every single fricking second of the day. Crazy, right? Prior to quarantine if you would have told me to stay at home, stay away from the beautiful barbells, chlorine, and the newfound middle-aged friend named John who I met at spin class (yes, shout out to you for teaching this 19 year old girl how to adjust a stationary bike…) I would have nearly had a vasovagal reaction like I do whenever I have to unforesakenly get blood work done. But, I know there is a purpose in this: what if slowing down, was just as equivalent as grinding? What if, if acting with intention and pure mindfulness we’d be going at a much more manageable pace, getting more accomplished, aligned with our goals? I think I finally realized that.
2. Athleisure truly is a game-changer, but so is that occasional dress-down day. As an honorary catholic school girl, and to all my Catholic school peeps, you know the utter joy of being able to wear something different, something fresh, something that was ultimately the essence of you. Not a plaid skirt nor a suffocating collar shirt squeezing your poor neck nearly lifeless. No. Rather, the feeling of waking up, actually looking into your closet full of pinks, purples, light up Sketchers, knowing you were going to be different today. Welp, nearly 10 years later, as I am hunched over staring at my screen, I can honestly say that same feeling appeared. (well, despite not having a blond bowl cut and bangs, boot cut khakis, and a plaid jumper embroidered with my school’s name). There is grace to be found. Here I am waking up on a random Tuesday morning, all sorts of giddy knowing today I will not wear the same Nike sweat pants for the 12th day in a row. Rather, I am teleported back to that little girl. Pretty neat, right?
3. Reading is cool. Yes, laying outside on your porch with a good book is, in fact, bliss. Or your bed. I don’t care. HOWEVER, if you STILL continue to bash the beauty of reading, I truly am sorry for you. Now’s the time to read that book from Barnes and Noble you got 1 year ago from a friend of a friend who recommended it to you. Please. Your pupils will be happy that you are no longer staring at a blue light computer and I will be cheering you on, too… but, I am not your mom.
4. “STOLAT STOLAT”. Get back to your roots people. While I do have a polish tattoo on my back, I’ll be the first to admit that I am NOT fluent in the Polish language. However, if I want to– I can be. Apparently, it takes 4,400 hours to learn a new language. How about instead of napping your entire day away, scrolling on tik tok into the wee hours of the night, complaining about being bored… hm, you unbore yourself. Or what if (get this) we learn something new? For my birthday, I made it my goal to learn the Polish Happy Birthday Song. And guess what? It didn’t even take me a half hour to learn. So, how about instead of complaining there is nothing to do, you find something to do and get something out of this solitude. I challenge you to learn a birthday song in the language of your choice. Good Luck. Powodzenia.

That’s all I got so far. I truly believe that we can get the most out of this crazy period but ultimately living out our QuaranDREAMS. Think about what you want, get you want, and dream people.

Cześć!