Because this year hasn’t been enough of a dumpster fire, now we are entering what is usually a very festive and joyful time of year.

A time spent with family and friends, a time to be present with the ones we love most, a time to actually get out and be among those we enjoy being around.

Except this year we’re being told NO. We need to stay home, we need to distance, we need to sacrifice so we can get out of this pandemic.

For some that’s exactly what they are doing because they are rule followers and it’s for the greater good right? For others (and there is a big part of me that falls into this group) the minute you tell me to do something, the next minute I’m going to tell you where you can shove it.

Now before anyone gets their panties in a wad, I am NOT denying that we have a situtaion going on in this country. We do, and it sucks.

My struggle through it all is that a very large entity that can’t run it’s own business effectively is essentially trying to tell everyone how to run theirs and as it hasn’t worked the way they hoped so far, then maybe it’s time to take a different approach. You may disagree, that’s fine, we’re all grown ups here. This is how I am going to choose to see it.

I’ll wear my mask when I go into a public place, I’ll distance where I can, and I’ll not venture out if I’m feeling sick. When I am at home, my mask can go to hell and I will continue teaching my children to observe and question the world they live in.

For Thanksgiving I will pick my brother and his family up from the airport on Tuesday morning and I will enjoy every loud and crazy minute that they are with us the next couple days. We will not be wearing masks in my house, we will all sit down together to share meals, play games and watch movies.

I am not in denial about what is going on in the world. I value my time with my family more right now, in a moment I am promised and won’t ever get back, then I do living in fear of a virus that may or may not take me down.

This opinion isn’t popular, but I know I’m not the only one that feels this way. We will get back to something that looks like a normal life one day, there are just several roadblocks along the way. Until then I’m going to live my best/ most healthy life and keep showing up each day.

I cannot and will not live in fear of something that I cannot control. I think if we all just did our best to be thoughtful humans we might avoid several of the pitfalls we seem to have created.

On that note, have a joyful and gratitude filled Thanksgiving and I’ll talk to you again soon!
~S