There are lots of big scary things happening in the world right now.  Frankly, that’s not new.  What is new is that the same frightening things are happening to people all over the world at the same time.  As much as the idea that we are “all in this pandemic together” may be comforting, it’s true that at the same time we are all in this alone.

We have things in common and on the other hand, we have things that specifically challenge each of us.  Each day, we must find our way through not only the circumstances but the emotions they bring up.

For me personally, it seems to be the little things that both push me “over my edge” and bring me joy.  That’s probably not a new occurrence. Now that the day to day hustle has slowed down to a crawl I’m much more observant of myself and my reactions.

I have been working a bunch on pivoting in the face of the adverse things! I did a blog just a couple of weeks ago about pivoting when something doesn’t work   (Lot’s of Pivoting)   It’s a way I have learned to move past the obstacle or problem.  Things that break, don’t work, aren’t what’s expected…you know, everyday stuff we’ve come to depend on that seems more complex than it used to be!  Little things!

Just when I’m exhausted from coping and pivoting and I don’t think I can take it anymore, some wonderful little thing happens!  For example,  I got an email from a client I haven’t worked with in years, telling me that our work around money has really helped her, and has given her the strength to cope with the money issues of this uncertain time. Or when I find a joke on Facebook that really tickles me, or a friend calls to share something funny.

It’s the little things that add up and really matter.

Sometimes the positives just come by themselves.  Sometimes they are like a response to the negative — For example, when finding fresh rhubarb at the store cheers the part of me that is hunting like mad for toilet paper.

The best example I have of the ‘duel-aspect’ thing is my recent internet adventure.  My internet was literally making me crazy!  It would be on for about a minute, off for a minute, on  for 3 minutes…on and on it went.  I kept thinking/hoping it was some temporary glitch.  I finally gave up and called my internet provider.  About half an hour later on the phone with a representative, it was sorta fixed and a guy was scheduled to come sort  it out the next day.  (This in itself was a miracle…I have often had to wait for days for someone to come out…and for me that means no internet and no phone!  Yipes)  Meanwhile, several weeks before the internet decided to get petulant, the Pandora Music app stopped working on my theoretically ‘smart‘ TV.  It worked on my tablet and my computer, but not the TV!  It just froze.  This was a big deal because crazy dancing to music from my youth has become the only viable form of exercise available to me while Covid-19 is with us.  Another cause for pivoting…and not in a good way. The tech was nice, friendly and not only fixed the internet, but I asked if he had any suggestions about the Pandora thing and he fiddles with the TV and gets that working too!  Hot Damn!!!  It’s a little thing, but it sure made my heart sing to be able to rock out and dance myself silly once he left!

There are really several things to ponder in this blog:

• We are all doing the best we can
• Perhaps it’s the little things that make a difference for you too?
• Who knows a broken internet may end up with a fixed Pandora!

Please take some time to find out what brings you back to joy, and what helps you through angst.  It may even turn out to be the little things.

Ka-ching

Shell Tain, the Untangler