Five years ago it took getting diagnosed with cancer to make me wake up and see things for what they really were.
The uncertainty you’re feeling right now? I felt that everyday. I still feel it, but I’ve learned to adapt to it. I’ve learned to live amongst it.
This is your wake up call.
The feelings you have right now, they’re valid. The fear, the anxiety, the grief, it’s all real. But what will you do with it? Let it overcome you and wither away? Or learn to adapt and thrive in these uncertain times.
We will all eventually face a time in our lives where everything is turned upside down, we no longer know where we fit, what will happen, and how to deal with it. Let this be the time that you figure out how. Let this be the time where you figure out how to just “be”.
Five years ago I was abruptly forced to turn my life upside down. I was forced to give up the life I was used to living, I was forced to grieve the old me.
I had to make fast and hard changes, I had to give up working suddenly. I had to apply for long term disability, give up my day to day schedule, and become isolated from the world without a choice in the matter.
I know how you feel, being told you can’t work, having to apply for EI, not knowing when you can resume your normal day to day.
Social distancing didn’t have a term then, it just happened naturally. This was my new life, my new reality.
Yes, I’m trying to give you a wake up call. But in the most respectful, understanding, and empathic way. I get you, I feel you, I understand so much of what you’re going through. I want to help you navigate through the uncertainty you’re feeling. Not judge you for how you feel.
That feeling of helplessness because you don’t know what’s in store for your future? The feeling of impending doom that you cant shake? It’s normal. I felt that way too. I too have had to cancel my future, I too have sat lost and scared about what’s to come. I too have felt out of control about the unknown that lies ahead.
So what can we do to conquer it? You’re sitting at home, pacing back and fourth, scrolling through your social media, unable to control the panic.
Let me ask you this, when you had your “life in order” and things were “normal”, what were the things you longed to do? How many times did you wish you could just shut the world out and connect with yourself? Let this be the time you ask yourself who you really are.
Let this be the time that you appreciate the monotony of your days.
Let this be the time that you tell your loved ones how you feel about them, and reach out to the people who you haven’t told in some time.
Let this be the time you just slow down the pace, take a breath, enjoy.
Don’t let fear and panic take over your life, but be respectful and aware of what’s happening around you.
This IS life changing, this IS scary, but it can also be therapeutic and life changing in a positive way.
We need to learn how to see joy and embrace our circumstances.
What have I done in the last few years during self isolation?
The time you’ve wanted to spend with your loved ones? Soak it up!
The book you’ve wanted to read? Read it.
The nextflix series you didn’t have time to watch? Watch it.
The novel you’ve always wanted to write? Write it.
The naps you’ve longed to take when you were exhausted? Sleep your heart out!
That exercise regimen you always want to start? Do it now.
The FaceTime calls you’ve put off cause you were too busy? Start calling up your distant friends.
The sunrise and sunsets you always missed? Enjoy them.
The complicated meals you never had the time or energy to cook? Start cooking!
The trail you always drive by and always say “I wanna go walk there sometime soon”, go explore!
The bath salts you always buy and never have time to use? Go soak!
Meditate, meditate, meditate! Learn how to calm your mind. It won’t just help you during this time, it will help you when all of this is over.
Learn how to face fearful situations and not succumb to that fear. Learn to be your best self, the person you never even knew you wanted to be.
Explore who you are, get to know “who I am” again.
After all… you have nothing but time.
Something that not all of us have the luxury of saying. Time is something that some of us want so badly, and yearn for more of every single minute of every single day. Use your time wisely, because one day… all of that “extra time” you’re complaining about having, could be gone.
And last but not least… just be thankful. Thankful for your health, the time you have, the friends who love you, the family who you love, your freedom. Be thankful for those who are sacrificing every day for you to have these things.
You will be sitting at home, pacing back and fourth, scrolling through your social media, but the difference? You will be able to conquer the fear of uncertainty, you will know how to deal with it head on, because you will know exactly who you are and what you wanted out of life, and you won’t let anything or anyone take THAT away from you.
Peace 
Pheo VS Fabulous