It felt like how every end-of-the-world movie begins. Waking up in bed, sunlight streaming through the window. Children bouncing and smiling, charming their parent out of her comfy bed to go make pancakes. They know nothing of what is coming …
My life before the coronavirus took over our little Seattle neighborhood was not an easy-pancake-morning life. It was a make-a-really-hard-choice-to-leave-my-marriage-and-become-a-single-parent-to-two-children kind of life. I had in no way regained my footing on solid ground prior to the pandemic earthquake that is reshaping our world.
But if there is one thing that I’ve learned from upending my own life, it is that I have a superpower. I can face any difficult truth and, not just survive, but I can find the bright side.
And it is that bright zesty side, the side that is currently working overtime to take infected lemons and make them into lemonade, that I would like to put out into the universe. That is, when I am not running after two high energy kiddos, wiping down groceries, or going on two hour “sanity walks.” Let this blog serve as some sort of optimistic drop in the cosmic ocean of chaos in which our lives seem to be barely staying afloat.
Right now, we are all facing the very real fear that we or a loved one could become terribly ill and possibly die. We live our days within the very stark reality that even if we survive, thousands of people will not. These truths are horrific. Yet, we seem to keep going.
Throughout the past year of becoming a single parent, if I have learned anything about survival, it is that one cannot keep going without finding moments for happiness and joy. I find that taking a break for rejuvenation, when possible, truly makes me stronger and a better parent. It is that view from the bright side that has enabled me to face hard truths and continue on in my journey for a more beautiful life. Also, laughter can strengthen the immune system! Something we will all need in the coming days.
Lemonade from Infected Lemons 