Time Well Spent
Hi all! To anyone reading this, sorry for the several month delay! Work has been insanely busy with the hospital due to COVID-19 and I’ve been overwhelmed with all of that.
So, straight to my post.. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about using this time during COVID-19 well. We are living in unprecedented times, and when this ends, I don’t want to look back on this and think “I could’ve done more.” I want to look back on it and be proud of myself for using the time I was given well. I’m working on getting healthier emotionally and physically (which has been the hardest to do as honestly these past 2 months have been the hardest out of the 3 years I’ve been at the health system I work for, due to COVID-19.)
I made progress today, 4/19/20 so I’m happy that I did something😊 My plan is to work out 3 days a week (changing the days according to my work schedule) and I got day one done so I’m proud of that. But back to my topic for today- using this time well with shelter in place and everyone being in different physical, emotional and mental circumstances. When this is done, I want to look back on it and know that I changed. Not just physically with working out or mentally with my thoughts and giving grace to myself, especially at work. But I want to really, truly experience lasting change. The kind of change that comes from finding my bravery, daily, and meeting people where their at in my job, and putting my own emotions aside in order to deal with the emotions in front of me and to keep doing my job to the best of my ability even with so much information being given to me daily, weekly and monthly at work and with it being a totally different place than it was just a few months ago, which was a bit unnerving given how fast this all happened.
I want my time to be spent reframing how I view my relationships in my family, immediate and extended, as well as within my church community and my friendships there and within my small group.( as a person whose top love languages are quality time and physical touch, it’s been my biggest struggle, these past few months, not having that in the same way as before, but I’m also learning to appreciate the technology like Zoom and FaceTime, where I can still see and talk to my friends and family🙌🏻 and I’m holding onto hope that those will happen again, and when they do, that for all of us, myself included, it’ll be all the sweeter because of this, because none of us are taking those for granted any longer.) I want to be more intentional with all the people I love, with my words and my actions. I want to speak words that are life giving and not soul crushing.
No matter how frustrated I am by all of this, all the uncertainty of how long it will or won’t last, if it comes back again, etc. I want to love others well and give grace to all around me because at the end of the day, we all need grace. For ourselves and for each other. During this time and also when it’s over and life and society start up again, I want to look back on this and know that I smiled more and worried less, to know that I didn’t let a word go unsaid to all my people (you all know who you are😘) during this and going forward into the unknown, I did not and will not let a physical touch wait until the next time I can see that person, because none of us is guaranteed anything from day to day.
I want to be changed spiritually, in my walk with Jesus, to be more like Him in all I say and do, not perfectly but increasingly. I want to become more- more loving to others, more patient towards myself, more prepared to deal with hard things and know that I can more than handle them, not in my own strength but in God’s. I want to grow as a daughter, a sister, a sister in law, as a friend to all the people I love and who are also dealing with this pandemic and have lost so much from it. We are all in this together, none of us is alone. To end, one of my favorite quotes from Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is from The Fellowship of The Ring movie. Frodo and Gandalf are discussing the predicament they and Middle Earth are in, and the burden they feel because of it.
Frodo says “ I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” Let’s use this time well. Let’s remember we are all human and make mistakes and need grace. Let’s actively search for things to be grateful for, no matter how small. Let’s remember we can choose our emotions, our words and our reactions to our circumstances. Let’s remember to keep smiling even when things are hard. Let’s remember to not self insulate but to reach out to those we know who need an encouraging word, through text or by phone, with a note or small gift.
Let’s remember the permanently lonely among us, our neighbors, widows and widowers, the aged, singles, single parents, first responders and healthcare workers, all essential workers in grocery stores and in the food service industry. Use this time well, don’t waste it. Love well, be hopeful❤️😌
So, straight to my post.. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about using this time during COVID-19 well. We are living in unprecedented times, and when this ends, I don’t want to look back on this and think “I could’ve done more.” I want to look back on it and be proud of myself for using the time I was given well. I’m working on getting healthier emotionally and physically (which has been the hardest to do as honestly these past 2 months have been the hardest out of the 3 years I’ve been at the health system I work for, due to COVID-19.)
I made progress today, 4/19/20 so I’m happy that I did something😊 My plan is to work out 3 days a week (changing the days according to my work schedule) and I got day one done so I’m proud of that. But back to my topic for today- using this time well with shelter in place and everyone being in different physical, emotional and mental circumstances. When this is done, I want to look back on it and know that I changed. Not just physically with working out or mentally with my thoughts and giving grace to myself, especially at work. But I want to really, truly experience lasting change. The kind of change that comes from finding my bravery, daily, and meeting people where their at in my job, and putting my own emotions aside in order to deal with the emotions in front of me and to keep doing my job to the best of my ability even with so much information being given to me daily, weekly and monthly at work and with it being a totally different place than it was just a few months ago, which was a bit unnerving given how fast this all happened.
I want my time to be spent reframing how I view my relationships in my family, immediate and extended, as well as within my church community and my friendships there and within my small group.( as a person whose top love languages are quality time and physical touch, it’s been my biggest struggle, these past few months, not having that in the same way as before, but I’m also learning to appreciate the technology like Zoom and FaceTime, where I can still see and talk to my friends and family🙌🏻 and I’m holding onto hope that those will happen again, and when they do, that for all of us, myself included, it’ll be all the sweeter because of this, because none of us are taking those for granted any longer.) I want to be more intentional with all the people I love, with my words and my actions. I want to speak words that are life giving and not soul crushing.
No matter how frustrated I am by all of this, all the uncertainty of how long it will or won’t last, if it comes back again, etc. I want to love others well and give grace to all around me because at the end of the day, we all need grace. For ourselves and for each other. During this time and also when it’s over and life and society start up again, I want to look back on this and know that I smiled more and worried less, to know that I didn’t let a word go unsaid to all my people (you all know who you are😘) during this and going forward into the unknown, I did not and will not let a physical touch wait until the next time I can see that person, because none of us is guaranteed anything from day to day.
I want to be changed spiritually, in my walk with Jesus, to be more like Him in all I say and do, not perfectly but increasingly. I want to become more- more loving to others, more patient towards myself, more prepared to deal with hard things and know that I can more than handle them, not in my own strength but in God’s. I want to grow as a daughter, a sister, a sister in law, as a friend to all the people I love and who are also dealing with this pandemic and have lost so much from it. We are all in this together, none of us is alone. To end, one of my favorite quotes from Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is from The Fellowship of The Ring movie. Frodo and Gandalf are discussing the predicament they and Middle Earth are in, and the burden they feel because of it.
Frodo says “ I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” Let’s use this time well. Let’s remember we are all human and make mistakes and need grace. Let’s actively search for things to be grateful for, no matter how small. Let’s remember we can choose our emotions, our words and our reactions to our circumstances. Let’s remember to keep smiling even when things are hard. Let’s remember to not self insulate but to reach out to those we know who need an encouraging word, through text or by phone, with a note or small gift.
Let’s remember the permanently lonely among us, our neighbors, widows and widowers, the aged, singles, single parents, first responders and healthcare workers, all essential workers in grocery stores and in the food service industry. Use this time well, don’t waste it. Love well, be hopeful❤️😌
Beautifully written, Julie and very convicting and encouraging! You are a born writer!
ReplyDeleteThank you Aunt Judy!!!!
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