Hey Party People,
As things in Alberta open up it feels weird. Super weird. Walking into stores without a mask – uh is this allowed now? Seeing sporting events on TV with THOUSANDS of people – ummm how is that safe? Stampede is in full swing with crowds and rides, and I am 1000% more aware of high-touch surfaces.
I’m also becoming aware of how isolating COVID has been for all of us. We ALL know how isolating it was, but we tried our best to deal and push through without really paying attention or admitting how fucking hard it really was.
I always had it in the back of my mind that I was pretty isolated, that I spent A LOT of time alone, but I thought I was doing ok. I still connected with friends here and there, saw my family etc. But it hasn’t been the same. I realize the impact more clearly as I saw people flocking to Stampede events, or back to the patios because they were craving people and social interaction. If you’re an introvert, you might be feeling the complete opposite and be having major anxiety with everything opening up. Either way, it’s been a lot and we have to admit how hard it was, how hard it is and then move forward. We’re going to have to retrain ourselves.
What was normal? What is normal? What is allowed? What’s not? Honestly, I don’t care much for the rules around everything but care more about how I’m feeling. We all need to pay more attention and readjust things to address our own feelings of isolation. Even though I thought I was still reaching out to people and trying to make plans it just wasn’t the same. It felt like so much freaking work - right?! Everything was weather dependant and there were so few things to do. Now there are more options again, but it feels weird to go from nothing to everything. It is an adjustment.
Back to those feelings of isolation. I am sure every single one of us has felt it. Some more than others, and at different times. I wasn’t consciously aware of how much I missed people, and if I’m completely honest not working has added to my strain. I’ve been lonely and I’ve craved physical, emotional, and social contact. We are programmed to be social beings so of course, my feelings are natural but it has also felt impossible to fix it!
So, I don’t have solutions for you this week and I know that’s not what an engaging blogger is “supposed to do”, but I’m not your typical blogger. I won’t always have the answers and I won’t always have the knowledge nugget you need to hear. Sometimes there is simply comfort in knowing we are living the same experiences and living with some of the same challenges, knowing we’re not alone and knowing others are feeling the same.
I hope with everything opening up you’re feeling grounded and aligned. If you’re feeling unhinged and sporadic – I feel you. There will be a mixed bag of things that will pull you out of sync but give yourself some grace as we all learn this next phase together. I know I don’t want to go back to what was pre-pandemic, but I also don’t want to live in the restricted existence of the past 18 months. New ground. Middle ground. Let’s rebuild a new existence where we feel connected, balanced, loved, respected, and fulfilled – together.
Here is your party jam this week.
With Gratitude,
-S
P.S. As I noted I’ve stepped back from the social media scene which means I’m not sharing or promoting my posts. If you feel inspired or are willing to share on your mediums, I would be so grateful. I can only hope my words continue to spread even if I don’t have the full energy to get it out in the world. I know they will reach you, my subscribers.
P.P.S. If you don’t get your consistent Sunday posts from me for the rest of the summer, don’t be alarmed, I’m still here. I’m simply giving myself space to be where I need to be or not be, for me.
