Finding Joy in COVID.

Joy…can be hard to find sometimes. I think especially now. Sometimes I feel everything that gave me joy has now been taken away because of COVID and how it entered the world. I was on my way home from work the other day (I work until 11:30pm) and found myself so content as I was driving on I-394 and through the tunnels all by myself. Not a car to really be seen. There aren’t many times when you get to be on big highways all by yourself with no traffic. It was like an altered reality. I had my radio on MAX to one of my favorite songs (Love Lost by Temper Trap) and it was quite literally like a movie scene.

I was thinking the other day of how happy that night made me and about all the other special things I have found joy in during this unknowing time. Usually I don't feel like I even have time to think about the things that make me happy. I have come to learn to be present with the people I am with and really appreciate the small things for what they are. Here are a few other things that I have found joy in:

Journaling.

I have been doing this since I was just 7 years old. I periodically go back a read a few entries and get nostalgic.

Going to bed with clean sheets.

Picnics at the lakes.

Growing plants.

I grew my own chia plant this spring (: It was the cutest thing.

Eating raw cookie dough.

Reading books.

I feel like I never get the chance to read or if I do, I feel guilty that I should be doing something more productive. I’ve read two amazing, educational books which I learned a lot of really interesting and useful information.

Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? by Mark Hyman

The End of Mental Illness by Daniel Amen

Taking tequila shots.

I was always scared of tequila because of the sour faces people always made after taking it. Turns out it’s my favorite shot now. I’m not sure why I ever thought raspberry vodka and Ron Diaz ever deserved a spot in my liver. I love tequila enough to take 7 shots in a night. Impressed? or Disgusted?

Playing with puppies.

Walks with my family.

If you didn’t go on walks during quarantine, are you normal?

Making iced vanilla lattes.

Swimming in the rain.

This moment of my life was a full-on movie scene from the notebook. I ran outside in my suit, off the dock, and into the rippling water and pounding rain and kissed a boy.

Ignoring my phone.

Writing letters.

Grocery shopping with my roommate.

Let’s just say we’ve seen and met some weirdos.

Watching sunsets…and sunrises.

I can’t count how many times I have watched the sun set with my friends on different lakes. All unique with their own color pallet. I’ve watched one sunrise, at 5:30am. I’m not an early riser but it was well worth it. Probably won't happen again though.

Grabbing dinner with friends.

Going with the flow.

Going out the night before work.

Smart? No. Really fun and spontaneous? Yes.

Frank and Andreas pizza.

Pepperoni and mac n’ cheese pizza from Franks will always have my heart. With a side of ranch.

Tubing down rivers.

Have you ever tubed down a river with your friends for three hours with a lot of booze? Pretty fun. I highly recommend it.

Meeting new people…and letting some go.

Watching a couple get engaged.

I was actually broken up with my boyfriend and we went for a walk on stone arch bridge to talk and we saw a couple get engaged right in front of us. The girl was SO happy. We looked at each other and kind of laughed/smiled and we decided to turn around. How ironic.

Getting coffee and catching up with friends.

Being alone.

I don't always need to being doing something with people or always have plans. I am content being on my own watching movies and reading books for an entire weekend. Sometimes people overload themselves and I think they should just take time to be on their own and sort their thoughts out and have a mental break from socializing!

Eating frozen Hershey's.

Just put a chocolate bar in the freezer and thank me later.

Having small gatherings with people.

I spent one night this summer drinking in a camper right outside a regular house. Another night with just the girls and we made tik toks and had a million laughs and ate lots of naan. There was a night I got off work and I went over to an apartment and we ran to another one in the pouring rain. We got there and talked and drew all over each other with markers.

Ice-cream trips late at night.

I would highly recommend Sebastian Joe’s.

Getting a new hair style.

Going home on the weekends.

Free food, dog cuddles a lake. What more do you need?

Laying in the sun.

How can you hate the sun?

I try to see all the good that COVID has brought, while still having days where I feel like it has ruined my entire life. I now have become more appreciative of the small things in life and have realized I don't always need a lot going on to be happy. Find those things that give you joy and hold onto them!