Renewed Focus

I haven't written a blog for nearly a year. In fact, I haven't done a lot of things for nearly a year. So much has changed in a year and yet so much is the same.

I began the year as I had the past 29 years, working as a home health aide and in October I retired. I actually retired earlier than I expected and the main reason was COVID. I, like many other health care workers, had tired of this illness and the effects it was having on my life and the life of others around me. The way that it has infected our lives, not just by the physical illness but psychologically, has been devastating.

At first, we just set aside certain activities because, after all, it was just a virus and would pass and we would return to our "normal" lives soon. We just needed to sacrifice for a few weeks...months...and it has dragged on. We are separated from friends and family, hoping to shield one another from the spread. Now we are holding out hope for a vaccine which is seemingly around the corner. But really...when will it arrive?

So, I am renewing my focus on the things in life which are important to me by taking charge once again of things I CAN control. I CAN take care of my health and I CAN find ways to maintain and develop relationships with my family now that I am retired and even at a distance. It's time to pull myself out of this fog, see more clearly the people and activities which make life worth living,and establish new/renewed priorities.

The Winter Warriors BL Challenge began Dec. 2 and I am looking forward to reaching goals I have set for myself. I have recreated a "chart", which I have used in the past, to remind me of my goals and tasks that I want to accomplish. I hope to be more supportive of my team this round than I was in the Summer and Fall challenges.