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Quarantine- Exploration and Uncovering

Quarantine has brought moments of creativity, exploration, and lackadaisical thought. This season has encouraged me to learn, explore, listen, understand, finetune my values, and appreciate doing nothing. This exploration has transpired both naturally and intentionally, and I am thankful for the opportunties.

The top 3 things I have explored are:

  •  Independence- I value my independence and have had to learn how to navigate it during major life changes, which includes moving in with my Mom and Stepdad. I am forever grateful to have the ability to live with them, but I would be lying if I said it was rainbows and butterflies. This time has allowed me to assess which of my values are non-negotiables, independence, and how to maintain boundaries to stay true to myself.
  •  Time- It is easy for me to fall into the hamster wheel of life. Wake up, work from home, workout, spend time with my Mom, Stepdad, and fur sisters,
    and go to bed. While routine is something I treasure, I like to shake things up to stay motivated and away from the monotony that life can sometimes become. Since Covid 19, the definition of normal has been changed. Shaking things up looks different. I have joined a virtual book club, began regularly journaling, started this blog, started a run streak with the goal of 100 days, and make sure to spend extra time with my Mom’s two dogs. While these things certainly could have happened prior to quarantine, I have come to understand that the activities that I spend time doing impact my values.  
  •  Outdoors- Growing up in the middle of a corn field in small town Iowa, I didn’t think twice about the importance of nature. I did not grow up loving the outdoors, dang summer heat and humidity and frigidly cold winters. But I did grow up camping and boating every summer and those times they bring back the most vivid memories. Sitting around the campfire listening to my Dad tell stories and spending long summer days on our pontoon boat with family and friends. Looking back, these memories play a significant role in making me the mountain loving, adventurer seeking woman I am today. The moments I remember most are enjoying the beauty of nature that brings me so much joy. During Covid, I am yet again reminded of the joy it brings. While we may not be able to visit the places we enjoy, and spend time with people, we can still enjoy the beauty of nature that we are surrounded by each day, and for that, I am forever grateful to enjoy the natural beauty of the world.
These are only 3 of the things that I have learned, explored and began to more deeply understand. I have uncovered behaviors and beliefs that I have outgrown, and I am courageously working to uncover.  Exploration and learning do not always affirm what we believe and for that I am grateful.

What have you learned during quarantine? Let me know in the comments.

With Courage,

Katie

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