Comfort Zone
In days of yore (maybe 2 months
ago), I would encourage friends to get out of their comfort zones.
To try new and exciting things. To do something different. Now all
bets are off. And though I am an expert on nothing, here is my
unsolicited advice to you:
STAY
IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE!
Let me rephrase the: Be SAFE,
follow guidelines/rules/laws and STAY IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE!
These are strange days indeed (to
quote John Lennon). This is no time to feel that you SHOULD be doing this
or SHOULD be doing that. This is the time to cut yourself some slack and
be comfortable.
Are you working from home in your pajamas?
Is that comfortable for you? Then go for it! No judgement.
Are you having Cheetos for
breakfast? Is that what you were craving? Go for it. No
judgement.
Now I am NOT saying that you should
ONLY wear your pajamas or ONLY eat snack foods. That is not safe and it
will also (eventually) cease to be comfortable. But what we should do and
what we can do is what is "right" and comfortable for us.
We are all in different places
emotionally and spiritually right now. That's ok. There are people
who are afraid to go outside. That's understandable for the times we are
now in. Once this passes, it will not be okay and I would encourage you
to get help. (By the way, you can get it now too. Mental healthcare
workers ARE available in non-traditional ways. You should NEVER be afraid
or embarrassed to ask for help. We ALL need help. ALL of us!) For
now, if you want to stay inside; stay inside. That's what works for you.
For me, I am comfortable going for
daily walks. I live in an area where that IS possible. (It may not
be so where you live.) I do so safely and following guidelines; so where
I once was up and out the door at 4:30 AM, I now do not go out until after 5 AM
(people are asked to stay off the road from 8 PM till 5 AM). I used to
wear earbuds and listen to music, but I'm not comfortable with that now; I feel
like I need to be more aware of what is going on around me, so I just walk.
As a result, my pace is slower, but that's ok. I'd love to go walk in the park,
but the park is closed. So I stay out of the park. (I wish everyone
would follow this rule. It's there for a reason!) Whenever I see
anyone, I say hello and keep my distance and keep moving. I'm getting
exercise. I'm getting fresh air. And I'm keeping my peace of
mind. I would NOT be doing this if I lived in a crowded area; I would not
feel comfortable and it would not be safe.
At this point I feel comfortable
going grocery shopping once a week. I carefully plan my trip. I go
alone, which makes me slightly uncomfortable, but I know it's safer to do so. I
dress appropriately. I will continue to do this as safely and responsible
as possible. However, if it gets to the point where I am NOT comfortable
or it is NOT safe, I will stop.
We need to be comfortable. We
need to recognize that while we are all in this together; we are also at
different stages and places in life. If you're cold, you put on a
sweater. You should not (and will not by me) be judged for that. If
you're nervous about going outside, you should not (and will not by me) be
judged for that. If you need to do things that might be considered
strange or unconventional because it makes you comfortable...I say go for
it. (Again, as long as it's safe! You might be comfortable taking a
cross country drive, but right now that's NOT safe.)
Allow yourself to be
comfortable. Allow others to be comfortable without judgement. In
my mind, it's the best way to survive and even thrive.
Stay well...stay safe...stay sane.
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