Make Use of THIS Time. THIS Phase. THIS Now.

This Phase -- 2020 -- has clearly been a shock and surprise.  It has changed so much of our day-to-day lives.  I have caught myself thinking often, "I can't do that", and then as the "I can'ts" add up, I have become increasingly withdrawn and saddened.  So many of the things we usually do in the summer are halted or altogether stopped, and it's been a slow process this month to take stock and somewhat grieve for them.  On the list--being with friends, family bbqs, small-town baseball games and fireworks.  Community concerts, outdoor movies, rodeos, and big group campouts.  Luckily, this feeling of loss is starting to give way to a feeling that there is opportunity in this summer totally unlike any other season of my life.  So, I thought I'd share an ongoing list of things I CAN do this summer, and hopefully my sharing might help someone else begin their own list and their own actions of things that CAN be done this summer.  Because even though there are a lot of things missing this summer--it also is a time when a lot of things that I never have the time or inclination to do are finally getting done.  And I'm finding that being fulfilled and productive have their own kind of "joy"-- a satisfaction that I'm leaning into, learning from, and starting to love. 

In no specific order, here is a list of things I am starting to do for Summer 2020:

• bike riding 
• I used to mountain bike a lot in high school and college.  Enter in kids and family life, and biking just didn't have a place in my life...until now.  I've been able to take off on my bike, discovering some fun little trails to help me regain my confidence off-road, and I hope to hit some bigger trails in the next few months.  (this is also my favorite form of exercise because it feels like like "work" and more just "fun")
• cleaning out our unfinished basement 
• This is the project that has been waiting for years...I am really happy to have days when no one is needing me, waiting for me--and I can just de-junk and clean!...which will hopefully lead to FINISHING our basement before next August.  (Everyone needs goals, right?!)
• yard projects 
• I can think of about 100 things I'd rather do than yard work, but now that I have the time, I'm enjoying working with my kids on various yard projects, and making our yard someplace I like to be.
• cleaning 
• yes...cleaning.  Unglamorous, I know.  I'm teaching my daughters, age 9 and 10, to do the harder cleaning jobs, like mopping the floors, cleaning out the tub and shower, and dusting without using the entire can of Pledge!  Teaching them takes WAY longer than just doing it myself, but I'm hopeful that when life goes back to "normal", we'll be able to clean the house in a couple hours between the 3 of us instead of it taking all day for just me!  I don't love using my Saturdays for cleaning during the school year, so this is a great use of this time-at-home. 
• library trips & reading 
• I jumped for joy the day the library opened back up!  I have to wear a mask, and my kids don't really get to explore the games or hop on the computers, BUT we are excited to check out books again!  I usually read books on my phone, but there has been something incredibly soothing about holding a real book again, and discovering new stories and authors.  I'm a huge fan of reading--continually reading--as a way to expose myself to other cultures and histories I can't experience myself.  I wander through library aisles and grab books, open to a page and read it.  If the style of writing is good, I'll check it out.  I've found amazing books that way--and part of the joy is feeling like I "discovered" it on my own.:-)  
• Baking and Cooking
• I know this one is common to many people during this time.  I've overcome a few of my fears in the kitchen:  baking bread (the mystery of how to get yeast to rise is no longer a mystery!), working my way through multiple chocolate chip cookie recipes to find just the right one (not the healthiest progress I've made, but definitely the tastiest!), and making homemade curry sauces (we really miss certain restaurants!!).  I also finally overcame my fear of the InstantPot which my mom got me for Christmas 2 years ago (yes...it's been in a box for 2 years!), and used it.  I was terrified of this cooking-appliance and thought I would die, the house would catch on fire--or both.  Luckily, there are lots of nice people who share InstantPot tips online. 
• Hiking
• This is one activity we can do while social-distancing--so I am getting out with my kids about twice / month.  We haven't gone on any hike more than 4 hours, but considering that my youngest is 5 years old, I'm really happy with this!   
• Cross-Stitch and Needlepoint
• I need to first say:  I am not much of a crafty person, and I definitely have NEVER sewn.  But this seems to be a great little activity.  I have a little cross-stitch pattern that gives me "something to do" when there is "nothing to do".  I'm learning quite a bit, and I feel like I might, might have the courage to try sewing at some point.  
• Music
• I haven't been able to play the piano because of an injured wrist (waiting for that surgery...yikes!), but I have enjoyed listening to music.  I've also helped my daughters learn some celtic fiddling duets.  We didn't have time for "extra music" before this summer, but now they are begging to practice their violins more!  When life is "normal", we never had time for this, so I'm really grateful for this opening to a new musical interest.
• Korean Dramas
• Yes--I do fill part of my time with Netflix!  I've discovered that I love Korean Dramas.  I watched "Crash Landing On You" the first few weeks of COVID-19, and just barely finished "Hi, Bye, Mama".  I've been entertained and learned quite a bit about a different culture through watching them, and even though no one else in my family is hooked yet...I'll probably keep on this trend!    

Okay--that's all!  As I was writing the list, I realized how different this summer has been--and in a good way!  We've switched out pools and swimming for hiking and biking, play-dates for music and cross-stitch.  Yes, it's different--but I'm leaning into it, learning, and even starting to LOVE it for it's own worth!

I hope to hear from each of you about things you are doing during this time as well--maybe something new, maybe an old hobby you've re-discovered.  So, make use of THIS time.  And let me know what you find, learn, and love!